Overview

The University of Auckland, Auckland Law School, currently ranked 59th by Subject in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, will be launching a new programme, the first of its kind in New Zealand – the Juris Doctor (JD).

This Criminal Law programme from University of Auckland is designed for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than Law.

The JD offers a rigorous foundation in New Zealand law and prepares students to practise, lead, and innovate across diverse sectors where legal insight is key to navigating complexity and change.

Juris Doctor graduates will be equipped to transition into the legal profession or complement their existing expertise with legal knowledge - opening pathways into law firms, corporate legal teams, government agencies, non-profits, and policy-making.

Career opportunities

There are diverse career opportunities available in the legal field, including:

In legal practice

Law firm associate
Barristers
Judicial roles

In corporate and in-house counsel

Corporate lawyers

Legal advisers

In public sector and Government

Government lawyers

Policy analysts

Programme Structure

To obtain more information about this programme, we kindly suggest you to visit the official website.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-02-01 00:00:00

Application deadline not specified.

Language

English

Credits

360 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Auckland, New Zealand

Disciplines

Criminal Law

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.

Other requirements

General requirements

Complete a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) approved by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE), or a Juris Doctor approved by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education. Overseas law graduates or those who have been admitted in another jurisdiction (except Australia may be required to complete further New Zealand university subjects and/ or parts of the New Zealand Law and Practice Examination.

Complete the Professional Legal Studies Course at either the Institute of Professional Legal Studies or College of Law. Overseas trained lawyers may be exempted from this, once their qualifications and experience have been assessed by the NZCLE.

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Auckland and/or in New Zealand, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Living costs

Auckland

New Zealand

1400 - 2200 NZD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.