Doctor of Laws

The Doctor of Laws (LLD) is a prestigious degree awarded for an original, substantial, and distinguished contribution to legal scholarship. It recognises the candidate as an international authority and requires a higher level of achievement than a PhD.The Doctor of Laws (LLD) is a higher doctorate, ranking above the PhD, awarded to established scholars who have made an original, substantial, and distinguished contribution to the advancement of legal studies. This prestigious degree is almost always awarded for published works, such as a book or articles in international journals, that establish the author as an international authority in a particular area of law.The LLD is recognised for its prestige within the University, New Zealand's legal community, and the international academic world. The level of achievement required is significantly higher than that of a PhD.

To be eligible for PhD or Higher Degree study you must have completed a Bachelor with Honours or a Masters degree, which has a significant research component. A research component must be a thesis, dissertation, or research project which makes up at least 25% of one year’s study of your entry qualification. Research methods papers are not counted as a research component.