# University of Canterbury Faculty of Law

The UC Faculty of Law (informally UC School of Law; Māori: Te Kaupeka Ture) is the law school at the University of Canterbury. The Faculty of Law and the University of Otago Faculty of Law were both established in 1873, making them the oldest law schools in New Zealand. The Faculty began offering a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1877. The faculty awards degrees in law and criminal justice, including the LL.B., LL.M., and Ph.D.
Originally led by a single practitioner, the faculty's teaching responsibility later shifted to prominent figures like William Izard and George Weston. The faculty grew over time, establishing multiple full-time chairs by 1970, and moved to the Ilam campus in 1974. In 1993, it relocated to a newly constructed law building.
The faculty has several affiliated clubs, including the Law Students' Society (LAWSOC), founded in 1923. It also publishes the Canterbury Law Review, a peer-reviewed journal established in 1980.
Prominent faculty members have included John Burrows, Philip Joseph, Ursula Cheer, and Stephen Todd. The faculty has produced widely used legal texts, and its alumni have made significant contributions to law and public service, including Supreme Court justices William Young and Andrew Tipping, and Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Feleti Teo.

## History

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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Currently located in the Meremere building at Canterbury's Ilam campus, the faculty will move to the Karl Popper building in 2025.

## Academic profile

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.). Canterbury is the only University to offer the bachelor and master of criminal justice in New Zealand in 2014.
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. Notable winners include former Supreme Court Justices Andrew Tipping & William Young; and former President of the Court of Appeal Ivor Richardson.

## Organisations and publications

UC 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.
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. 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.
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.
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:
* Burrows and Cheer Media Law in New Zealand
* Burrows, Finn and Todd on the Law of Contract in New Zealand
* Elizabeth Toomey New Zealand Land Law
* Elizabeth Toomey Sports Law in New Zealand
* Joseph on Constitutional and Administrative Law
* Lynne Taylor Corporate Law in New Zealand
* Lynne Taylor The Law of Insolvency in New Zealand
* Todd on Torts (formerly The Law of Torts in New Zealand)

## Notable people

Since 1873, the UC Faculty of Law has produced a prominent group of alumni.
Notable faculty members include:
* John Burrows, (emeritus) professor; former pro- and deputy vice chancellor.
* 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.
* Elizabeth Macpherson, professor.
* Annick Masselot, professor.
* Elisabeth McDonald, former professor.
* 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.
* Elizabeth Toomey, (emeritus) professor of land law.
* Duncan Webb, politician; and former professor.
* Debra Wilson, professor of medicine law.
The list of deans are:
* 1957 – 1968, Hamish Gray
* 1969, Position Vacant
* 1970 – 1974, L. John Ryan
* 1975 – 1980, Robert ('Robin') Caldwell
* 1980 – 1986, John Burrows
* 1987 – 1988, John Farrar
* 1989 – 2001, Gerald ('Gerry') Orchard
* 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
* 2016 – 2022, Ursula Cheer
* 2022 – 2023, John Page
* 2023 – 2024, Karen Scott (acting)
* 2024 – present, Petra Butler