University of Canterbury Faculty of Law

The University of New Zealand was founded in 1870. In 1872 the Canterbury Collegiate Union was established and this subsequently became Canterbury University College, affiliated to the University of New Zealand. By 1873, law students had the option to substitute university arts courses for the general knowledge exam, and initial law classes began at the University of Otago and Canterbury University College.

In 1874, Charles James Foster, who had previously served as a professor of jurisprudence at University College London, was appointed as a lecturer in jurisprudence. In 1877, the University of New Zealand introduced the LL.B. The response to Foster's teaching methods in law was largely negative, with practitioners criticising the overly academic nature of his approach. As a result, students chose to complete their courses mainly through private study, leading to the cessation of lectures in early 1880.{{Cite web |title=Farra, Professor J H --- "Dr C. J. Foster-Canterbury's First Law Teacher" [1980] CanterLawRw 2; (1980) 1(1) Canterbury Law Review 5 |url=https://www.nzlii.org/nz/journals/CanterLawRw/1980/2.html |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=www.nzlii.org}}

In 1883, William Izard took over the role of lecturer. His lectures were described as “sound” and delivered in a “pleasant, informal, and chatty manner.” Izard also promoted “habits of steady reading,” although his demanding lecturing schedule had a negative impact on his bridge-playing activities.{{Cite web |title=Matso, Isobel --- "Historical Note 1873- 1980" [1980] CanterLawRw 1; (1980) 1(1) Canterbury Law Review 1 |url=https://www.nzlii.org/nz/journals/CanterLawRw/1980/1.html |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=www.nzlii.org}}

In 1902, George Weston succeeded Izard as lecturer. Weston taught jurisprudence and delivered seven additional lectures on subjects including roman law, international law, and conflict of laws. He encountered difficulties due to an inadequate library and a lack of New Zealand textbooks. Despite these obstacles, Weston's students included “schoolmasters transitioning to new professions, law clerks, and individuals preparing for possible career changes.” Weston and his successors, all of whom were local practitioners, taught alone until 1912, when an assistant lecturer was appointed. The staff was further expanded in 1922 with the addition of another assistant.

By 1970, three permanent full-time chairs in law were established. The first professor, Hamish Gray, was appointed in 1957. Subsequently, two additional chairs were created in 1968, filled by George Hinde and Robin Caldwell, and another chair was established in 1973, which was filled by John Burrows. In January 1974 the Faculty moved from the old University to the Ilam campus.

File:Sir Ivor Richardson Plaque, University of Canterbury (cropped).jpg

On the 2 July 1993 the faculty moved into the newly constructed law building (now the Meremere building). The building was officially opened by alumnus and then Court of Appeal Justice, Ivor Richardson.{{Cite web |last1=Prebble |first1=John |last2=Crawford |first2=Allegra |last3=Lincoln |first3=Laura |date=2024-01-09 |title=Richardson Paper 94 Opening of New Law building, University of Canterbury |url=https://elsevier-ssrn-document-store-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/14/10/02/ssrn_id2504789_code1674181.pdf?response-content-disposition=inline&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEGsaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJGMEQCIEdDH1PFLTTXMS3HzuxGtNzlP%2FlFS8BvMf%2BILmdcQN8wAiBUlicdq5Lby295O5Lv8erPN5Z2NQ%2Bm6j%2BaAPAvGWcOQirGBQiE%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F8BEAQaDDMwODQ3NTMwMTI1NyIM1KBBCWcICM6tR8GdKpoFHu5R9%2F%2FtxSgvid0ZwCGF3UgusM%2FTJoeJuOqk8PdCDf7HFrHgJpzZbZzt%2Fqvjwo0CvkklCkDtkoX59fIEGsMoraI5Jq6cCC2xRNSXNGPaJzKJ3yEVhY9g64hUjZ454RBFicwYmEuQFnhDdAXrSaBj6QFoNP6XpaKvrhURAmv9r%2FpzpgDlSUKutVyYjmhNTYXdAK5qh%2F5UZzvufCFrP9L91gS%2BtDApq4u%2BbIyc5HLnac9VbjGI7koTBRk8hR1RGZmYXumrtz%2B1kGe9O%2BJxWNc%2BrfDTd2JW0eAHmn4JOny1cGy4XSLEuZe2Fkvj9oQrkY1gxE%2BsltNYpXYZWjfMGxmaZMLs4ml0w9T4IEhPvHKvWxO%2FRvblfBUB89K7J6Pc5Skd6UDCVgDp0E9csczd7gDLZAiRv%2B7kNCkhO6P3MdXmPnijmF4y05Tcr5SlI0Zs%2FE2JkgC6BFA7xmE12u%2FjofpSpW342Kqd7Nz0q6gii60R5WZ36HIh1Ixv6INy8hWaIIt46Ape9lUBPBCvDlEalip9HAsebRQlM2p48wsBJil8gLpuoLzWunwMYYvQKvjnZ%2FqGOdEK2l594JdUSpedNYjvmK9TQTab13hrXo3FC4cdWwZnqTwFNfnaBVe7NjfX%2FKu4xXNAA1ZDnWXntxEJoVUaSoR402cUPa%2FupWC%2FY90cA3oLZcqULYbRqOrW46U5Bs%2BHxgdlQ1h2tHKyD8wYeI2Al4ewcvTI5EvHlozbeI%2FmdtXtCtKcgLw2U0cSqLBorufWqCA0lq0otgg%2F58YrS%2FViXfu5u10GSkEhj9Yuh6hgDHw6jb4Mtcetvu0ZmrQJJcYK8sxEV2JnX87tIaQ%2BLIHBYaxSNLEathyaomyqsDC5hWhRWSZmegdf%2BQkvMOywz7YGOrIB9%2FJLS3BE06mvDaoSeQI%2BbIa5erPu6Iyae0xmFliyFP3Z%2FRg59bvOHXfRClXAAeiyJb9NVTRePRxV5sl1kFsUVMZj73GAWGjEgS1zJNdxniPWXS9hHqDrVF%2FwUzXUpD1yatEMcBxC%2FmSr2wgwW8c3XEp7wNa4qR9lNcBUBUUwR1GPGlglDbU6pGAgTOyQ0qsLhXulrdvqToViOtWpc5gkqjuBiC8HILq6mq93IidlER6qYQ%3D%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20240901T035725Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAUPUUPRWE7XNWHXQM%2F20240901%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=7b3caa173fed0852fe2ac4860cc9967a464c5e1b4689a5c5d44bc91c8baaf49b |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2024-01-09 |publisher=Victoria University of Wellington Faculty}}

Prior to 2023, the faculty of law was joined with the UC Business School, under the college of business and law. As part of a realignment of faculty organisation, in 2023 the college was split with the law and business becoming separate faculties.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-27 |title=Faculties {{!}} University of Canterbury |url=https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/our-structure/faculties |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.canterbury.ac.nz |language=en}} Currently located in the Meremere building at Canterbury's Ilam campus, the faculty will move to the Karl Popper building in 2025.{{Cite web |title=GETS {{!}} University of Canterbury - Faculty of Law to Karl Popper |url=https://www.gets.govt.nz/UC/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=28121400 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=www.gets.govt.nz}}

The faculty awards the degrees of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LL.B.(Hons)) Master of Laws (LL.M.), Bachelor of Criminal Justice (B.CJ.), Master of Criminal Justice (M.CJ.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and the Doctor of Laws (LL.D.).{{Cite web |date=2023-11-05 |title=Law and Criminal Justice qualifications {{!}} University of Canterbury |url=https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/academic-study/law/study-law-and-criminal-justice/law-qualifications |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.canterbury.ac.nz |language=en}} Canterbury is the only University to offer the bachelor and master of criminal justice in New Zealand from 2014.{{Cite web |title=Bachelor of Criminal Justice {{!}} University of Canterbury |url=https://www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz/en/study-options/course/7a27ad87-db33-4bcd-beac-d6f536e0e805 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Study with New Zealand |language=en}}

The Canterbury Gold Medal in Law is one of New Zealand's longest-standing academic prizes and is awarded annually to the best student graduating LL.B. at the University of Canterbury. The prize was first awarded in 1883, but was originally awarded to barristers and to solicitors until 1912, when the Canterbury District Law Society awarded the prize only to Canterbury graduates.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-09 |title=Canterbury Gold Medal in Law |url=https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/branches-sections-and-groups/branches/canterbury-westland/canterbury-gold-medal-in-law/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=New Zealand Law Society {{!}} Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa |language=en}} Notable winners include former Supreme Court Justices Andrew Tipping & William Young;{{Cite web |title=UC graduates win prestigious law medals – delay because of earthquakes |url=https://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=96581 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=infonews.co.nz |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-24 |title=William Young {{!}} Doctor of Laws {{!}} University of Canterbury |url=https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/why-uc/our-alumni/honorary-doctorates/sir-william-young |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=www.canterbury.ac.nz |language=en}} and former President of the Court of Appeal Ivor Richardson.

The law faculty also runs a range of extra-curricular competitions for students, including mooting, negotiations, witness examination, paper presentation, and client interviewing. Winners of each competition represent Canterbury at the New Zealand Law Students' Association (NZLSA) Conference, competing against other law schools from New Zealand, and at the Australian Law Students' Association (ALSA) Conference, competing against law schools from Australia.{{Cite web |title=Competitions {{!}} New Zealand Law Students' Association |url=https://www.nzlsa.com/competitions/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=New Zealand Law Students' Association |language=en-NZ}} The winner of the NZLSA moot represents New Zealand at the Jessup Moot. The winner of the Canterbury mooting competition is awarded the Colin Fife Memorial Prize, in honor of former student Colin Fife, a past winner of the competition and Jessup mooter, former judge’s clerk for Robert Chambers, and co-author of Law and Sport with Elizabeth Toomey.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-01 |title=Donate to the Colin Fife Memorial Prize and Scholarship {{!}} University of Canterbury |url=https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/donating-to-uc/focus-your-support/support-our-scholarships/colin-fife-memorial-prize-and-scholarship-support |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=www.canterbury.ac.nz |language=en}}

File:LAWSOC Canterbury Logo 2023.pngUC Law has eight affiliated clubs: the Law Students' Society (LAWSOC), Te Putaiki Māori Law Students' Society, Pasifika Law Students' Society (PLSS), Asian Law Students' Society (ALSS), Women in Law, Law for Change, MootSoc, Crimsoc, and Queer in Law (QUIL). Among these, LAWSOC is the oldest, having been established in 1923. Notable presidents include former High Court Justice Gerald Nation and current High Court Justice Andru Isac.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-26 |title=Law and Criminal Justice clubs and societies {{!}} University of Canterbury |url=https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/academic-study/law/law-clubs-and-societies |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=www.canterbury.ac.nz |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Clubs |url=https://ucsa.org.nz/clubs/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=ucsa.org.nz}}

LAWSOC annually presents the "Law Revue" a production written and performed by law students. The revue offers satirical commentary on current affairs, pop culture, law, and university life. It has been a tradition since its inception in 1995, running for 28 years.{{Cite web |title=Law Revue Review 2023 |url=https://www.canta.co.nz/culture-1/kj76qm33gjwef1infq55v4lqpajlx1 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Canta |language=en-NZ}} In 2019, students faced disciplinary action due to their involvement in a revue production that included content mocking a partially deaf student. Other parts of the show, dubbed "disgusting" by one attendee, were criticised for being sexist and racist.{{Cite web |title=Students punished for ‘offensive’ law revue |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116141569/students-punished-for-offensive-law-revue |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}

The Canterbury Law Review is a peer-reviewed law journal established in 1980. The journal is the second most-read law journal in New Zealand.{{Cite web |title=Canterbury Law Review |url=https://www.nzlii.org/nz/journals/CanterLawRw/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.nzlii.org}}{{Cite web |title=Canterbury Law Review - Westlaw NZ |url=https://store.thomsonreuters.co.nz/canterbury-law-review-westlaw-nz/productdetail/123440 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Thomson Reuters New Zealand}}{{Infobox journal

| title = Canterbury Law Review

| italic title = no

| image =

| abbreviation = Canterbury L.Rev.

| discipline = Law

| language = English

| publisher = Canterbury Law Review Trust at the University of Canterbury

| country = New Zealand

| history = 1980–present

| frequency = Annually

| bluebook = Canta LR

| ISSN = 0112-0581

| website = https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/about-uc-research/research-groups-and-centres/canterbury-law-review

| link1 = https://www.nzlii.org/nz/journals/CanterLawRw/

| link1-name = Online archive

}}

A significant number of the textbooks used in legal studies in New Zealand were authored by faculty members from the University of Canterbury's Faculty of Law. Some notable texts include:{{Cite web |date=2023-08-25 |title=UC Law history {{!}} University of Canterbury |url=https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/academic-study/law/about-uc-law-and-criminal-justice/uc-law-history |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=www.canterbury.ac.nz |language=en}}{{div col|colwidth=20em|small=}}

• Ursula Cheer Burrows and Cheer Media Law in New Zealand (8th ed, Lexis Nexis, Wellington, 2021).
• Stephen Todd and Matthew Barber Burrows, Finn and Todd on the Law of Contract in New Zealand (7th ed, Lexis Nexis, Wellington, 2022).
• Elizabeth Toomey (ed) New Zealand Land Law (3rd ed, Thomson Reuters, Wellington, 2017).
• Elizabeth Toomey and Colin Fife Sports Law in New Zealand (3rd ed, Wolters Kluwer, Auckland, 2019).
• Phillip A Joseph Joseph on Constitutional and Administrative Law (5th ed, Thomson Reuters, Wellington, 2021).
• Susan Watson and Lynne Taylor Corporate Law in New Zealand (Thomson Reuters, Wellington, 2019).
• Lynne Taylor The Law of Insolvency in New Zealand (2nd ed, Thomson Reuters, Wellington, 2021).
• Stephen Todd and others Todd on Torts (9th ed, Thomson Reuters, Wellington, 2023) (formerly The Law of Torts in New Zealand).

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Since 1873, the UC Faculty of Law has produced a prominent group of alumni.{{Main category|University of Canterbury Faculty of Law alumni}}{{See also|University of Canterbury#Law|label 1=University of Canterbury people in the law}}

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}}Notable faculty members include:

• Matthew Barber, professor of contract law.
• John Burrows, former professor; pro- and deputy vice chancellor.{{Cite web |date=2016-12-15 |title=New YearHonours 2017 - Citations for Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit {{!}} Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/new-year-honours-2017-citations-companions-new-zealand-order-merit |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.dpmc.govt.nz |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-24 |title=John Burrows {{!}} Doctor of Laws {{!}} University of Canterbury |url=https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/why-uc/our-alumni/honorary-doctorates/emeritus-professor-john-burrows |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.canterbury.ac.nz |language=en}}
• Petra Butler, international commercial law and human rights law scholar.
• Ursula Cheer, professor of tort and media law.
• Jeremy Finn, (emeritus) professor of criminal, contract and intellectual property law.
• Kenneth Gresson, first President of the Court of Appeal.
• Philip Joseph, professor of public law. {{Cite web |date=3 July 2024 |title=Special Recognition For UC Academic Appointed King's Counsel |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED2407/S00006/special-recognition-for-uc-academic-appointed-kings-counsel.htm |access-date=25 August 2024 |publisher=Press Release: University of Canterbury |via=www.scoop.co.nz}}
• Elizabeth Macpherson, professor.
• Annick Masselot, professor.
• Elisabeth McDonald, former professor.
• Gerald Orchard, former professor of evidence law.
• Karen Scott, professor of international law.
• Edward Somers, Justice of the Court of Appeal.
• Lynne Taylor, professor of company and insolvency law.
• Stephen Todd, (emeritus) professor of tort Law.{{Cite web |title=2021 Professor Stephen Todd FRSNZ |url=https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/who-we-are/our-people/our-fellows/new-fellow-seminars/2021-new-fellow-seminars/2021-professor-stephen-todd-frnz-3/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Royal Society Te Apārangi}}
• Elizabeth Toomey, (emeritus) professor of land law.
• Duncan Webb, politician; and former professor.
• Debra Wilson, professor of medicine law.

File:John Burrows (cropped).jpgThe list of deans are:

{{div col|colwidth=20em|small=}}

• 1957 – 1968, Hamish Gray
• 1969, Position Vacant
• 1970 – 1974, L. John Ryan
• 1975 – 1980, Robert Caldwell
• 1980 – 1986, John Burrows
• 1987 – 1988, John Farrar{{Cite web |title=John Farrar |url=https://bond.edu.au/profile/john-farrar |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=Bond University |language=en}}
• 1989 – 2001, Gerald Orchard{{Cite web |title=Burrows, John --- "In memoriam - Gerald Finlay Orchard" [2003] CanterLawRw 8; (2003) 9 Canterbury Law Review 227 |url=https://www.nzlii.org/nz/journals/CanterLawRw/2003/8.html |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=www.nzlii.org}}
• 2002, Stephen Todd
• 2003 – 2004, Scott Davidson
• 2005, Stephen Todd
• 2006 – 2008, Scott Davidson
• 2009, Position Vacant
• 2010 – 2012, Richard Scragg
• 2012 – 2015, Chris Gallavin{{Cite web |title=Pursue your passions - dean |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/8584242/Pursue-your-passions-dean |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}
• 2016 – 2022, Ursula Cheer
• 2022 – 2023, John Page
• 2023 – 2024, Karen Scott (acting)
• 2024 – present, Petra Butler{{Cite web |title=University of Canterbury appoints Victoria University of Wellington professor as dean of law |url=https://www.thelawyermag.com/nz/news/general/university-of-canterbury-appoints-victoria-university-of-wellington-professor-as-dean-of-law/468652 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.thelawyermag.com |language=en}}

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• Finn, J. (2010). [https://libcat.canterbury.ac.nz/Record/1257779 Educating for the Profession: Law at Canterbury, 1873-1973] Christchurch: Canterbury University Press.

• [https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/academic-study/law Official website]{{Authority control}}

{{University of Canterbury}}

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1873

Category:University of Canterbury

Category:Law schools in New Zealand