The curriculum will provide training in critical skills that are marketable across professions, such as the ability to "think like a lawyer" in solving problems and to make clearly written and logical arguments. It is a flexible, professionally aligned academic degree that addresses key aspects of human culture, communication, and society. It offers explicit pathways into the workforce as well as pathways for career progression or to higher degrees. Although the Master of Legal Studies will not qualify students to practice as a lawyer, it will provide graduates with the core competencies and skills required for law-related work. Students will gain practical legal knowledge that is flexible and transferable to a wide range of occupations, across the public and private sectors.

The following groups of students are eligible to be admitted to the Master of Legal Studies:

1. Three year bachelor’s degree in any discipline or field New Zealand bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum B GPA Admission into 180-point Master of Legal Studies programme;

2. Four year bachelor’s degree in any discipline or field New Zealand bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum B GPA Admission into 120-point Master of Legal Studies programme .