Work of the Council

The Council is an independent statutory body. The general activities of the Council concern public interest and regulatory matters and centre on the Council's responsibilities for the quality and provision of education and practical legal training that is required to be undertaken by any person either within New Zealand or from overseas wishing to be admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.

These general activities include:

• Defining and prescribing courses of study for the examination and practical legal training of persons wishing to be admitted as barristers and solicitors in New Zealand
• Arranging for the provision of those courses of study
• Arranging for the moderation and assessment of those courses of study
• Delivery of practical legal training
• Assessment of qualifications particularly those of overseas law graduates and legal practitioners wishing to practise in New Zealand
• Arranging for the provision of research as necessary, and tendering advice on legal education
• Administering and conducting certain examinations required to be taken by some overseas and other applicants.
  

Professional Legal Studies Course: Access to Student Loans and Allowances

The recent re-classification of training providers by the government means the Professional Legal Studies course (known as Profs) will need to be developed as a Qualification on the NZ Qualifications and Credits Framework, in order to ensure continued access to student support (loan/allowances) beyond 2024.

The New Zealand Council of Legal Education, as the statutory regulator of pre-admission legal training, has been working with the relevant government education agencies to progress this, and will be working to bring this about as smoothly and quickly as possible through the required New Zealand Qualifications Authority application process. There will be opportunities for stakeholder feedback, required as part of this process, and further information will be available about that in the next few months.

New Tikanga Māori requirements

From 1 January 2025, the New Zealand legal education curriculum will include requirements for the teaching and assessment of Tikanga Māori |Māori Māori Laws and philosophy.

FAQs about the new requirements:

• What are the new requirements?
• What will this mean for New Zealand law students?
• What will this mean for people who already hold a New Zealand law degree?
• What will this mean for overseas lawyers and graduates?

What are the new requirements?

1. There will be a new compulsory law course on Tikanga Māori (Māori Laws and philosophy).
2. The existing compulsory law courses will also include relevant content on tikanga Māori (Māori laws and philosophy).

 The existing compulsory law courses are:

•   The Legal System
•   Public Law
•   Contracts
•   Torts
•   Criminal Law
•   Property law (or Land Law and Equity and Succession)
•   Legal Ethics

What will this mean for New Zealand law students?

If you enrolled in the LLB before 1 January 2025, you will only need to complete whatever courses your university requires to obtain the LLB. Ask your Law School if you have any questions about what this means in your situation.

If you enroll in the LLB after 1 January 2025, you will need to complete the new requirements [link to FAQ What are the new requirements] to obtain the LLB.

What will this mean for people who already hold a New Zealand law degree?

New Zealand LLB holders seeking admission to the High Court can apply to the Council for a Certificate of Completion to show they have met all the educational requirements to be a lawyer.

If you apply for a Certificate of Completion before 1 January 2025, you will not have to complete the new requirements.

If you apply for a Certificate of Completion after 1 January 2025 and your 'qualifications for admission' are current – meaning they are less than 10 years old at the time you apply – you will not have to complete the new requirements.

If you apply for a Certificate of Completion after 1 January 2025 and your 'qualifications for admission' are stale – meaning they are more than 10 years old at the time you apply – the Council may require you to complete the new compulsory law course on Tikanga Māori (Māori Laws and philosophy) (in addition to other study or training).

'Qualifications for admission' are:

• a New Zealand LLB (or LLB with Hons)
• any compulsory law course
• the Professional Legal Studies Course. For more information about Stale Qualifications click here.

What will this mean for overseas lawyers and graduates?

Overseas lawyers and graduates seeking admission to the High Court of New Zealand can apply to the Council for an assessment of their qualifications.

If you apply for an assessment before 1 January 2025, you will not have to meet the new requirements, unless the Council's assessment, or the study or training you were required to complete under that assessment, have become stale – meaning they are more than 10 years old.

If you apply for an assessment after 1 January 2025, the Council may require you to complete the new compulsory law course on Tikanga Māori (Māori Laws and philosophy) (in addition to other study or training).

For more information about Overseas Law Qualifications click here.

Completion certificates

Processing time

Please allow for 6 to 8 weeks (up to 40 working days) processing time from the date your application is received by the Council. All applications received will be processed as soon as possible, but we cannot guarantee the date of receipt of your certificate. Please do not contact the council to enquire about the status of your application as this causes further delays.

Courier

If you would like to send your application in as a physical copy, please be aware that we can ONLY receive physical applications via our P.O. Box 5671 Wellington. If you use a courier for this please ensure the courier you make use of is able to deliver to a PO Box.

Please ensure that you address your application to the Completion Certificate Division.

NZ Law Graduates only

Email application process - NZ Law Graduates Only

In the event you require a fast-tracked completion certificate application, please email completioncertificatesnz@nzcle.org.nz. When sending applications to this email, please note that you will not receive a reply to any queries sent with your application. All queries should be directed to operations@nzcle.org.nz.

Fast-track fee - NZ Law Graduates Only

In the event you require a fast-tracked completion certificate application, please email completioncertificatesnz@nzcle.org.nz. Your certificate should be dispatched within 8 working days from the date we receive the application, granted that payment and all correct documentation is received. The fast-track fee is $200 (including GST) and is in addition to the standard fee of $189.75 (including GST). Note the fast-track timeframe of 8 working days is not a guarantee as we rely on external organisations and institutions to verify your supporting documentation.

NZLP Examination

New Zealand sitting only

The next two sittings for the NZLP examination will take place on 18 and 19 July 2023 and 14 and 15 November 2023.

The New Zealand examination will be sat at the University law faculties.


NZLPE Application Form NZ Sitting July 2023


For enrolments and administrative enquiries please contact the Examination Administrator Breid Keating at NZLPexam@nzcle.org.nz. For academic inquiries please contact the Academic Co-ordinator Professor Catherine Iorns Magallanes at Catherine.Iorns@vuw.ac.nz. For all other enquiries please contact operations@nzcle.org.nz.

Enrolment closes on 23 June 2023.

Please refer to the Law Practice Exam tab for more.

Overseas sitting only

No overseas sitting will be held in 2023, however the Council may allow each applicant to sit the NZLP examination in their home country provided they can satisfy the necessary requirements.

The next sitting for the NZLP examination will take place on 18 and 19 July 2023 and 14 and 15 November 2023.

Each applicant needs to arrange a suitable venue and independent invigilator at their own cost. Preferable venues are:

• Education institution
• Consulate
• Business advisory Council New Zealand
• New Zealand Embassy

Refer to the Law Practice Exam tab for more details on the overseas venue process.

Please note the NZLP Examinations are held in accordance with the Conduct of the New Zealand Law and Practice Examination Regulations 1996. The regulations can be found on our website www.nzcle.org.nz under the header "About Us".

NZLPE Application Form Overseas Sitting July 2023

For enrolments and administrative enquiries please contact the Examination Administrator Breid Keating at NZLPexam@nzcle.org.nz. For academic inquiries please contact the Academic Co-ordinator Professor Catherine Iorns Magallanes at Catherine.Iorns@vuw.ac.nz. For all other enquiries please contact operations@nzcle.org.nz

Each application venue will be considered individually, and you will be advised of our decision within 10 working days from receipt of application. The Council may decline to approve any venue at its discretion.

Enrolment closes on 9 June 2023.

Please refer to the Law Practice Exam tab for more.