- Duration
- Full-time: 1 year
- Part-time: Varies
- Next start date
- 2025 Semester Two – 21 July
- 2025 Late Year Term – 1 December
- Available locations
- City
- Points
- 120
- Programme type
- Postgraduate
- Taught & research options available
Programme overview
Our LLM is designed exclusively for law degree holders to provide an advanced level of flexible legal study for both full-time and part-time students. You can study while you work to keep up the momentum or go full-time to get to the next level even faster. Entry to the LLM is available throughout the year providing the flexibility you need to accelerate your career.
The LLM also permits cross-disciplinary study in the form of one or two masters courses (up to 30-points) from another faculty at the University of Auckland. It also provides skills in legal research methodology for those without advanced skills in this area.
With over 30 taught courses to choose from you can concentrate your study in particular areas of specialisation or study a broad range of legal subjects.
The LLM can be undertaken by coursework, research or a combination of both.
* 1 December start is available for the 120-point research masters program only, subject to supervisor availability.
Taught (coursework) masters
This programme allows you to study specific areas of law in greater depth and complexity than at an undergraduate level. The programme offers courses that provide detailed analyses of particular areas of law, as well as courses that are more policy-oriented. Each course contains a significant research component, usually in the form of a 12,500-word research essay for 30-point courses. For more detailed information on courses available see our Postgraduate taught courses page.
Research masters
This programme allows you to conduct in-depth study in an area of personal interest to enhance employment opportunities either professionally or academically. For more detailed information on research see our Postgraduate research options page.
Postgraduate specialisations
Specialisation is optional but you can choose to have your LLM awarded in one of our six specialisation areas: Corporate and Commercial Law, Environmental Law, Human Rights Law, International Law, Litigation and Dispute Resolution or Public Law.
You must complete a minimum of 90 points (made up of approved taught courses, a dissertation, thesis or research portfolio) in one of the six specialisations for the degree to be conferred with an endorsement in that particular area.
Watch: Hear from staff and alumni on the Master of Laws programme.
For more information, please contact us.
Programme structure
The LLM is made up of 120 points undertaken by coursework, research or a combination of both.
Taught masters (LLM by coursework)
A taught masters can be structured in the following three ways:
120 points of taught courses
OR
90 points of taught courses and a 30-point dissertation
OR
105 points of taught courses and 15-point supervised research
- All three options are to be completed in two full-time semesters (1 year) or eight part-time semesters (4 years).
Research masters (LLM by 120-point thesis)
120-point thesis (40,000 words).
- To be completed in two full-time semesters (1 year) or four part-time semesters (2 years).
Combination of taught and research masters (LLM by 90-point thesis)
30 points of taught courses, dissertation or supervised research and a 90-point thesis (30,000 words).
- To be completed in two full-time semesters (1 year) or four part-time semesters (2 years).
Flexible study
We understand that personal, family and work commitments are important factors when deciding whether to study, so we offer options to fit with your lifestyle:
- Full-semester courses taught in the early evening once a week
- Half-semester courses taught for six weeks of the semester in the early evening once a week
- Intensively-taught courses over three to five days (usually incorporating a weekend break, ie Weds, Thurs, Fri, Mon, Tue)
- Independent research programmes.
Scholarships
Discover the wide range of scholarships available at Auckland Law School for domestic and international students.
Postgraduate pathway
Download the Law postgraduate pathway (407KB, PDF)
You'll also need to meet other requirements, including time limits and total points limits. See Postgraduate enrolment.
Where could this programme take you?
The detailed analyses of particular areas of law, as well as courses that are more policy-oriented, make the LLM taught (coursework) an effective pathway to take your legal knowledge and transferable skills to the next level. The in-depth study required in the LLM by research can enhance employment opportunities either professionally or academically.
Jobs related to this programme
- Academic, teaching
- Barrister, solicitor
- Financial adviser, strategic policy planner
- Foreign policy official
- Policy analyst in public or private sector
- Research counsel
- Tax adviser, auditor, revenue assessment officer
- Resource management officer, property consultant
A Legal Advisor for the New Zealand Defence Force completing his LLM part time.
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- Auckland
- 923 5025
- Outside Auckland
- 0800 61 62 63
- International
- +64 9 373 7513