Celebrating 30 years of new frontiers: Te Piringa Faculty of Law
In 1991, when Te Piringa - Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato opened its doors, it was the beginning of a new approach to legal education in New Zealand.
Law
Study in one of the best law schools in New Zealand. Look deeper to find out why laws are made, who made them, how they work and how to change them.
Top 251-300 according to the 2024 QS Subject rankings
Commitment to research
Real admission to the LLB; colleagues not competitors
Learn from award winning professors
Apply to the University of Waikato
Quality of training
Experience a modern approach to studying law that is critical to a successful law graduate in today’s rapidly changing world.
High quality professional training in all the core subjects required by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education. Our focus on teaching practical skills are a key feature of the Waikato law programme, making our graduates in high demand for conventional legal positions, as well as policy and law reform roles.
Study a law degree in Tauranga
Students in Tauranga are able to enrol in all of our Law programmes.
This includes our two-year Diploma in Law, our three-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Law (for students who do not wish to practice law), our four-year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, and all our postgraduate degrees as well - including the Master of Laws LLM, Master of Legal Studies MLS, Doctor of Philosophy PhD, and Doctor of Juridical Science SJD. Students enrolled in the Diploma in Law or the BA in Law also have the option to credit their Law papers toward completion of the Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB).
Law Student for a Day
Are you curious about pursuing a career in law? Experience firsthand what it is like to be a law student at the University of Waikato at the next Law Student for a Day event that will take place in 2025.
Master's degrees in Law at Waikato
Take your career in Law to the next level with one of eight different Master’s degrees in Law designed for professionals, practitioners and academics who wish to add to their skill set.
Master of Laws endorsements available in:
- Environmental and Climate Change Law
- Health Law
- International Law
- Maori, Pacific, and Indigenous Peoples' Law
- New Technologies, Cyber Security, and Public Policy
Drive change in our society
Gain the skills and knowledge that meet the high demands of a wide range of careers, both inside and outside the legal profession.
For practicing lawyers our Master of Laws LLM degree satisfies the requirements for New Zealand Law Society CPD points.
The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree is for graduates with no prior legal study. It is designed for professionals who wish to add advanced studies in Law as part of their skill set. This degree emphasises creativity, communication, critical analysis, applied knowledge and problem solving in a variety of specialist disciplines.
Our graduate and postgraduate programme provide graduates with the deep inner confidence required to pursue leading careers in law or policy across all sectors of the economy, and successful and rewarding academic careers as legal scholars.
The power of language - He mana tō te reo
The Faculty of Law - Te Piringa, supports the use of te reo and the teaching of Māori customary law. We are committed to fostering Māori, Pacific Island and indigenous issues within the context of the Treaty of Waitangi partnership principle.
Articles
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First wahine Māori appointed to United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)
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Law alumnus honours grandfather through new judge role
When University of Waikato law alumnus Aidan Warren was five years old, he sat on the knee of his koro who gave him some advice, “When you grow up, become a lawyer to help our people.”
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Law alumna helps protect constitutional law
Supreme Court Justice of Samoa, Leilani Tuala-Warren, considers her work in protecting constitutional law during the recent Samoan political crisis a highlight.