New Zealand Council of Legal Education

www.nzcle.org.nz

Please refresh this webpage or clear your browsing cache to ensure you are viewing the most up-to-date version of this page. Refer to 'Whats new tab' for details on how to clear your browsing cache

Christmas Closedown

The Council will be closed on 20 December 2024 and will reopen on 13 January 2025.

Please note the following for each division during Christmas break:

New Zealand Completion Certificates

New Zealand Completion Certificate applications will stop processing applications from 18 December 2024. Any applications received after this date will not be processed until after 21 January 2025.

Please note, although fast track applications take eight (8) business days and the standard application time takes forty (40) business days, the period between 18 December and 21 January will not be recognised as business days.

Example 1: A standard application and a fast track application are received on Friday 6 December. The fast-track application will be processed by Tuesday 17 December, while the standard application will be processed by Wednesday 5 March.

Example 2: A standard application and a fast track application are received on Wednesday 18 December. The fast track application will be processed by Wednesday 29 January 2025, while the standard application will be processed by Monday 17 March 2025.

Overseas Completion Certificates

Overseas Completion Certificate applications will stop processing applications from 18 December 2024. Any applications currently in progress at 18 December will be placed on hold until we return on 13 January 2025. Any applications received after 18 December will be processed once we return on 13 January 2025.

Please note, although the standard application time takes forty (40) business days, the period between 20 December and 13 January will not be recognised as business days.

Certificates of Completion

Under the Lawyers and Conveyancers (Lawyers: Admission) Rules 2008, in order to show that the educational requirements have been completed, a candidate seeking admission to the High Court of New Zealand needs, to obtain a Certificate of Completion from the Council.

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.

Stale Qualifications

Please note that if any part of your qualification is affected by staleness you will need to make an application for assessment of stale qualifications before applying for your completion certificate. Please click on Stale Qualifications for more details.

If any of the following LLB core subjects were completed before 2014, you should make a stale application:

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

New Zealand Law Graduates

The application form may be downloaded here.

Processing time

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.

Email application process - NZ Law Graduates only

Completion certificate application can be emailed to 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.

Fast-track fee - NZ Law Graduates Only

The fast-track fee is $208 (including GST) and is in addition to the standard fee of $198 (including GST). 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. 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.

Overseas Law Graduates and Practitioners

When you have completed all the requirements imposed on you by the Council, you will be entitled to apply for a Completion Certificate.

The application form may be downloaded here.

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.

Copyright © New Zealand Council of Legal Education. All rights reserved. You may not copy, republish or distribute this page or the content from the page without having obtained written permission from the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education.

This is the only official website of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education. The Council takes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information provided about the Council or its operations on third party websites.