Our MLS is designed for professionals from non-legal backgrounds who require some knowledge of legal matters. Professionals such as accountants and auditors, architects and town planners, business development managers, compliance managers, engineers, IT professionals, police and public sector staff have greatly benefitted from this programme. 

Our programme provides 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 MLS is available throughout the year providing the flexibility you need to accelerate your career. 

The MLS 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 MLS can be undertaken through coursework or a combination of coursework and research. 

Taught (coursework) masters
This programme allows you to study specific areas of law. 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.

Combination Taught and Research masters
This programme allows you to study specific areas of law via coursework as well as conduct in-depth study in an area of personal interest to enhance employment opportunities. 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.

a. For 1 year (120 points)

You must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree or an undergraduate degree followed by an additional year of postgraduate study. Your study must have been at a recognised university (or similar institution) and you will need a GPE of 5.0 from your most recent full-time year of study.

b. For 1.5 years (180 points)

You must have completed a three-year bachelors degree. You will need a GPE of 5.0 from your most recent 120 points.