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New Zealand Council of Legal Education

Important Changes to NZLP Examination Overseas Venues

The Conduct of the New Zealand Law and Practice Examinations Regulations 1996 were amended to allow only one venue in the United Kingdom for overseas sitting of the NZLPE Examination. The amendment takes effect from 1 November 2012.

The New Zealand sittings are not affected by this change.

Please click on this link to download the Regulations.

Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Admission Regulations 2008

Under section 274(f) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 the Council is empowered to prescribe mechanisms and criteria for the recognition of Australian qualifications under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997. It is important for the profession that applicants and registration authorities have consistent and transparent criteria and mechanisms when applying or making decisions under the TTMRA.

To carry out its function under the Act the Council has promulgated regulations, the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Admission Regulations 2008. These regulations cover process issues (ie the form of application and checks to be undertaken by the Registrar), and also set out the criteria for equivalence.

The Regulations received Ministerial approval in October 2008 and came into force on 1 January 2009. An amendment was made to the Regulations effective 1 June 2011.

Please click on this link to download the Regulations.

Important Changes to Admission and to the Professional Examinations in Law Regulations

Important changes to the above Regulations came into force on the 1st of August 2008.

The first change related to regulations affecting some applicants for admission. Please click on this link to read them.

The second change related to the Professional Examinations in Law Regulations. Please click on this link to read them.

Important Changes to the conduct of the Professional Legal Studies Course

As a result of the review of the Professional Legal Studies Course conducted by the Right Honourable Sir Andrew Tipping, the Professional Legal Studies Course and Assessment Standards Regulations 2002, the Professional Examination in Law Regulations 2008 and the Professional Legal Studies Course Accreditation Regulation 2006 have been amended. Please click on this link to download the Regulations. The amendments come into force 1 December 2014.Click on About Us to access the complete set of the Council’s Regulations.

Overseas Qualifications Assessment

In respect of overseas qualifications assessments, the Council has expanded the policy on English language requirements. The Council has also amended the Professional Examination in Law Regulations 2008 to provide a formal review mechanism.
Click Overseas Qualifications for more details.

Fee Increase

The fees for applications for completion certificates and assessment of overseas qualifications will increase from 1 January 2015. click Certificates of Completion or Overseas Qualifications for more details.

The fees for New Zealand Law and Practice Examination will increase from 1 January 2015. Click Law Practice Exam for for details.