New Zealand Council of Legal Education

www.nzcle.org.nz

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Christmas Closedown

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

Overseas Credit Application division 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 up to sixteen weeks (80 business days), the period between 20 December and 13 January will not be recognised as business days.

Assessment of Overseas Law Qualifications

If you are an overseas practitioner (i.e. a person who is admitted as a barrister, solicitor, advocate or attorney of a superior court) or an overseas graduate (a person holding an LLB or equivalent law qualification, but who is not admitted to practise as a barrister, solicitor, advocate or attorney of a superior court) and you are seeking admission to the High Court of New Zealand you will have to apply to the New Zealand Council of Legal Education for assessment of your overseas qualification.

Please read the Assessment of Overseas Law Qualifications Information Brochure. If you require any further information, please contact the Council.

Under section 274(f) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, the Council is responsible for prescribing the mechanisms and criteria for recognition of Australian qualifications under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997.

If you are an Australian practitioner holding a current practising certificate, please refer to the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Admission Regulations 2008.

Please click on this link to download the regulations.

Alternatively, you may contact the New Zealand High Court for more information.

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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.