Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

AUT law graduates have established successful careers in a range of law firms, immigration consultancies and commercial establishments including Kensington Swan, Bell Gully, Buddle Findlay, Chapman Tripp, Meredith Connell, Langdon and Co Lawyers, Enterprise Law, Simpson Dowsett Mackie, Davies Law, Te Nahu Lovell & Co, Simpson Grierson, Kayes Fletcher Walker, Russell McVeagh and Wynyard Wood.

As a lawyer you might practise in a wide range of legal areas including corporate law, commercial and intellectual property, family law, environmental law, criminal law, taxation and general practice.

Law graduates also move into roles as:

• In-house lawyers in large New Zealand and multinational businesses and organisations
• Patent attorneys
• Policy advisors to central and local government
• Senior management roles in business
• Taxation practitioners in accountancy practices

Graduates of AUT's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) are eligible to gain admission as barristers and solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand on completion of their Professional Legal Studies course.

If you want to become a barrister and solicitor, you need to be admitted to the bar before you can call yourself a lawyer and practise law in New Zealand.

After successfully completing your Bachelor of Laws (Honours), you need to:

• Complete the Professional Legal Studies Course
• Obtain a certificate of completion from the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE); and
• Obtain a certificate of character from the Law Society; and
• Be admitted to the roll of barristers and solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand; and
• Hold a current practising certificate issued by the Law Society.

There are currently two providers of the Professional Legal Studies Course:

• The Institute of Professional Legal Studies
• The College of Law (New Zealand)

Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Law Careers