Professional Legal Studies Course Assessment and Standards Regulations 2002
Professional Legal Studies Course Assessment and Standards Regulations 2002
(Consolidated 2 March 2026)
1 Aims of the Professional Legal Studies Course
- 1.1 Pursuant to section 274(a) and (b) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006,practical legal training should cover those matters about which, in addition to an LLB or Juris Doctor degree, it is necessary, in the public interest, for lawyers to have sufficient familiarity before being admitted to the profession and commencing to practice as barristers and solicitors.
- [Amended 2026]
- 1.2 The course is intended:
- (a) to bridge the gap between the academic study of law and its practice;
- (b) to prepare the student for supervised practice, or for practice as a barrister sole;
- (c) to provide the student with skills which, when developed through practice, will equip the student to reach the level of professional competence required to represent a client without supervision;
- (d) to develop a sense of the professional role and responsibilities required of a lawyer as a practitioner and an officer of the court;
- (e) to prepare students for legal practice in a culturally diverse society and the need to be sensitive to cultural and gender issues;
- (f) to provide a foundation for the life-long learning of the practice of law and to encourage students to take responsibility for their ongoing professional development.
2 Course Content
- 2.1 The course content is currently prescribed by Regulation 3(2)(b) Professional Examinations in Law Regulations 2008 (as amended) as follows:
- Professional conduct and the following skills:
- (1) Interviewing
- (2) Advising
- (3) Fact investigation and analysis
- (4) Writing
- (5) Drafting
- (6) Negotiation
- (7) Mediation
- (8) Advocacy
- (9) Problem-solving
- (10) Practical legal research and analysis
- (11) Office and personal management
- 2.2 The above skills are to be taught in the context of specific legal transactions that are commonly required to be completed by newly-admitted lawyers. Such transactions may include criminal and civil proceedings in the District Court, matrimonial proceedings involving custody, access or property division, buying and selling residential or farm property, the purchase and sale of a business, drafting a will, or other common commercial transactions.
- [amended 2014]
3 Delivery Standards
- 3.1Duration of course
- 13 weeks in the case of a full-time course based on a five-day working week. In the case of methods of delivery other than by full-time course, the duration of the course should be a minimum 455 hours (including course delivery time and assessment time) (based on the equivalent of a full-time 13 week-course).
- 3.2Methods of delivery
- The course may (subject to these Standards and to accreditation) be delivered by providers in any of the following ways:
- (a) Full-time on-site
- (b) Part-time on-site
- (c) As a ‘block’ course (intensive residential course) on-site or at some other physical location;
- (d) Subject to 3.3 below, by flexible delivery (which includes on-line delivery, correspondence or other distance learning)
- (e) a combination of (b) and/or (c) and/or (d).
- 3.3Suitability for flexible delivery
- It is recognised that some instruction is not suitable for full delivery by distance or on-line learning. If delivery by distance or on-line learning is not suitable for certain skills the providers will be required to deliver these instructions by a face-to-face method. Providers will be required to include an appropriate balance in instruction, practice and assessment, between face-to-face, or audio-visual methods, and distance learning, in the areas of Interviewing, Advising, Negotiation, Mediation and Advocacy, when demonstrating how they propose to deliver, or are delivering, the Course Outcomes Specifications. [amended 2014]
- 3.4Weighting
- The hours below are guidelines for the appropriate division of course delivery time (assessment time is separately dealt with in 5.2 below). Providers and applicant providers are expected to follow these guidelines in their course design.
- Providers may (subject to the minimum hours guidelines) deliver the course outcome specifications under different or combined course titles (for example Negotiation and Mediation, Problem-Solving and Writing).
| Interviewing and Advising | Minimum time-23 hours |
|---|---|
| Fact investigation/ Analysis | Minimum time-28 hours |
| Writing | Minimum time-33 hours |
| Drafting | Minimum time-33 hours |
| Negotiation | Minimum time-20 hours |
| Mediation | Minimum time-5 hours |
| Advocacy | Minimum time-55 hours |
| Problem-solving | Minimum time-28 hours |
| Practical legal Research/analysis | Minimum time-10 hours |
| Office/personal management | Minimum time-15 hours |
| Professional Conduct | Minimum time- 20 hours |
4 Course Outcome Specifications
- 4.1Interviewing
- The Skill: To conduct a legal interview so as to identify clients’ problems and to determine clients’ objectives, gather relevant information and assist clients to reach decisions.
- After completing the Interviewing seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
Structure an interview to:
Determine the relevant facts.
Identify the legal issues.
Take instructions.
Establish and develop rapport with a client.
Demonstrate competence in oral and written communication skills.
[amended 2014]
- 4.2Advising
- The Skill: To conduct a legal interview, advise and report, so as to assist clients to reach decisions.
- After completing the Advising seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Give clear advice in order to assist clients to reach decisions
- Establish a professional relationship with the client.
- Deal with any ethical problems that may arise.
- Explain legal consequences and identify and advise on workable solutions for clients.
- Demonstrate competence in oral and written communication skills.
- [amended 2014]
- 4.3Fact investigation and analysis
- The Skill: To analyse a mixed mass of fact and law to produce a range of workable solutions to a legal problem.
- After completing the Fact investigation and analysis seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Analyse the legal issues arising from a complex scenario.
- Determine whether, and if so what, further information is required to complete the analysis.
- Present the relevant facts and legal position.
- Identify and formulate a concise range of relevant and workable practical solutions.
- [amended 2014]
- 4.4Writing
- The Skill: To write in clear and precise language.
- After completing the Writing seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Identify requirements for the content, format and organisation of a letter.
- Distinguish between accurate and imprecise drafting.
- Recognise, identify and use appropriate legal language.
- Draft basic legal letters and opinions.
- 4.5Drafting
- The Skill: To draft in clear and precise language.
- After completing the Drafting seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Identify requirements for the content, format and organisation of a document.
- Distinguish between accurate and imprecise drafting.
- Recognise, identify and use appropriate legal language.
- Draft basic legal documents.
- 4.6Negotiation
- The Skill: To resolve legal disputes by agreement between the parties.
- After completing the Negotiation seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Understand and use the techniques of problem solving in negotiation.
- Prepare for a negotiation.
- Recognise negotiation tactics and strategies and respond to them.
- 4.7Mediation
- The Skill: To resolve legal disputes by using a third party as facilitator.
- After completing the Mediation seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Identify the various forms of dispute resolution.
- Apply appropriate forms of dispute resolution to legal problems. (to be expanded as a result of Mediation development).
- 4.8Advocacy
- The Skill: To present a case orally in court.
- After completing the Advocacy seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Behave professionally and comply with the standards of conduct required in court.
- Present oral submissions. Identify and use appropriate methods to introduce evidence.
- Deal correctly with exhibits. Follow procedures for making objections.
- Use different questioning techniques in direct examination, cross examination and re- examination.
- Demonstrate competence in oral and written communication skills.
- [amended 2014]
- 4.9Problem-solving
- The Skill: To analyse and evaluate client options in order to determine the legal rights and obligations of the parties and for the resolution of problems.
- After completing the Problem Solving seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Identify the effects of documents on the relationships of the parties.
- Identify the inter-relationships of clauses and documents and assess their priorities.
- Ascertain the legal and practical consequences of documents.
- Identify criteria for option evaluation and methodologies for decision making.
- Understand the concepts involved in exercising professional judgment.
- [amended 2014]
- 4.10 Practical legal research and analysis
- The Skill: To undertake thorough investigation of factual and legal issues.
- After completing the Practical legal research and analysis seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Use primary and secondary texts.
- Locate cases and statutes.
- Use treatises, periodicals, digests and standard practitioner texts.
- Be familiar with computerized research tools.
- 4.11Office and personal management
- The Skill: To operate systems which promote efficient office, personal and ethical practices.
- After completing the Office and personal management seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Introduce a new matter or client into an office system and follow subsequent procedures.
- Understand the importance of effective time recording.
- Identify file management problems and solutions.
- Understand various billing and costing practices. Interpret and apply the commonly used trust account rules. Interpret and report on clients’ trust ledger entries.
- Demonstrate competence in oral and written communication skills.
- Understand the importance of building relationships in the profession.
- Understand effective techniques for developing and maintaining professional relationships, including those with clients, and other persons such as court officials.
- Understand the importance of effectively managing stress and identify effective stress-management techniques.
- Understand the importance of a supportive professional environment. Understand fundamental business concepts and practise in a businesslike manner.
- [amended 2014]
- 4.12Professional Conduct
- The Skill: To recognise and deal with practical, ethical and professional difficulties.
- After completing the Professional Conduct seminar the student will demonstrate the ability to:
- Identify the major responsibilities and privileges associated with being a lawyer in New Zealand.
- Identify action which may compromise a lawyer’s independence.
- Identify common responsibility issues arising in legal practice, in dealing with clients, other lawyers, judges and third parties.
- Identify the resources available to a new practitioner who is requiring assistance in resolving common professional responsibility issues.
- Identify/recognise professional responsibility issues in terms of the rules of professional conduct and identify and develop ways to solve issues in this area. Discharge/perform responsibilities with professional courtesy.
- Identify any relevant ethical dimension of a particular situation and apply professional ethical standards, including in situations of electronic commerce or other electronic transactions.
- [amended 2014]
5. Assessment, Attendance and Completion Requirements
- 5.1General
- Subject, to the guidelines below, the assessment regulations of each provider shall be consistent with the requirements set out in this section. At present, the Professional Legal Studies Course Regulations 2004 govern attendance requirements, grading and assessment, deferment of assessment, supplementary assessments and resits, appeal, review and other procedural matters relating to student grades, assessment and completion.
- Students shall be assessed in accordance with the Council’s regulations and the provider’s course regulations in force at the time of the student’s registration on the provider’s course, and must consent in writing to any changes to the regulations which are made after the date of their registration.
- 5.2Amount of Assessment and Weightings
- It is envisaged that in addition to student learning time set out in the guideline weightings in 3.4, a minimum of 45 hours total assessment time will be provided.
- The percentages below are a guide to the relative weightings of student time spent on assessments in each element of the course, as a percentage of total assessment time.
- Providers and applicant providers will be expected to comply with this guideline in designing and maintaining their PLSC.
- Interviewing and Advising 10%
- Fact investigation and analysis 10%
- Writing 10%
- Drafting 10%
- Negotiation 10%
- Mediation 2.5%
- Advocacy 22.5%
- Problem-solving 10%
- Practical legal research and analysis 5%
- Office and personal management 5%
- Professional Conduct 5%
All inquiries concerning these Regulations should be made to Rosemary Gordon, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education.
The commencement date for these Regulations is 18 November 2002.
Chief Executive
New Zealand Council of Legal Education
Minimum Legislative Information Table
| Title | Professional Legal Studies Course Assessment and Standards Regulations 2002 |
|---|---|
| Principal or amendment | Principal |
| Consolidated version | Yes |
| Empowering Act and provisions | Law Practitioners Act 1982, section 39 |
| Replacement empowering Act and provisions | Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, section 278 |
| Maker name | The New Zealand Council of Legal Education |
| Administering agency | The New Zealand Council of Legal Education |
| Date made | 14 November 2002 |
| Publication date | 18 November 2002 |
| Notification date | Not applicable |
| Commencement date | 18 November 2002 |
| End date | Not applicable |
| Consolidation as at date | 2 March 2026 |
| Related instruments | Professional Legal Studies Course and Assessment Standards Regulations 2002, Professional Legal Studies Course and Assessment Standards Amendment Regulations 2014, Juris Doctor Regulations 2024 |
Note: For clarity and ease of understanding, references within these regulations to the revoked Law Practitioners Act 1982 have been updated to reference the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 which replaced it.
Versions & Amendments
-
Original1 January 2002Professional Legal Studies Course and Assessment Standards Regulations 2002Download (pdf, 163 KB)
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Amendment1 January 2014Professional Legal Studies Course and Assessment Standard Regulations Amendment 2014Download (pdf, 331 KB)
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Amendment1 January 2026Juris Doctor Regulations 2024Download (pdf, 334 KB)