Staff with special roles for supporting students
Contact list of staff with special support roles
Details and advice about the structure and content of your Law studies
There is a lot of information to help you understand the structure and content of your Law studies. The information sets out the formal structure of the Bachelor of Laws (LLB), the structure of an LLB combined with another degree and the structure of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programme. It identifies the compulsory elements of the degree, shows you how long it will take and guides you on how many papers to take each year.
Read the Law Degree fact sheet (PDF)
Entry into second-year Law and the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree
The Faculty has formal processes for entry into:
Choosing your papers
The choice of Law papers you do in first and second year is dictated by the Faculty of Law. From third year onwards, while there are still some compulsory elements to the degree, you start to make your own choices about what sort of papers you want to study.
Fact sheet to help you make paper choices for third year onwards (PDF)
Planning your degree using the degree planner
The degree planner is to help you begin to plan your study for the LLB as well as any other degree you are studying for. We recommend going to see a course adviser to confirm your plan and make sure nothing is missed out.
If you are not enrolled in the LLB in conjunction with another degree, then filling all of the boxes will mean the requirements for both degrees are satisfied, unless you are doing a double major or a minor in your other degree. The bold lines represent the requirements for the LLB.
Download the degree planner (PDF)
Compulsory and elective Law papers
Going on student exchange
It is possible to reduce the number of elective Otago law papers by a maximum of 30 points. You can credit non-Law papers (if they are at 200 level and not used for another qualification) or, in limited circumstances, can credit a Law paper taken at a different University – most likely on exchange.
Guidelines – exchange and substitution points (PDF)
Learn about completing part of your study overseas on exchange
Developing the skills of a practising lawyer
During the course of the degree, you need to complete a number of elements aimed at starting you on the path of developing the skills of a practising lawyer.
The first of these is LAWS 298 Legal Writing, which is augmented in third year by LAWS 398 Legal Research. Both are part of a larger research and writing programme.
In addition to completing an oral advocacy skills requirement as part of LAWS 201 Criminal Law, you will also need to do the moot for LAWS 499 Advocacy Skills in the same year you do LAWS 301 Torts.
Skills development fact sheet about the research and writing programme (PDF)
Internal assessment
Every 300- and 400-level paper will offer some form of internal assessment – at the very least a research and writing assignment. The Faculty has collated information about the due dates, weighting and nature of the internal assessment available for most papers offered.
Internal assessment information (PDF)
Faculty of Law Generative AI and Academic Integrity Policy (PDF)
Admission to LAWS 464 and LAWS 480
Departmental permission is required for LAWS 464 and LAWS 480.
LAWS 464 Advocacy is limited to 12 students – if you want to do this paper, you must first pass evidence and be in your final year. Enrol through eVision in the normal way, but before the closing date of 30 November.
LAWS 480 allows you to do a single piece of researched writing on a topic of your choosing.
How to apply for LAWS 480 and how it works (PDF)
Application form for admission to LAWS 480 (PDF)
Student support
The University and Faculty offer a high level of support to students, so that you have every chance of success during your time with us.
Scholarships, awards and prizes
In addition to the University of Otago's general scholarships, the Faculty of Law offers several scholarships, awards and prizes.
Scholarships, awards and prizes