www.nzcle.org.nz

New Zealand Council of Legal Education

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Christmas Closedown

The Council will be closed on Friday 19 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 12 January 2026.

Please note the following:

Overseas Credit Applications will stop processing applications from 19 December 2025. Any applications currently in progress at 19 December will be placed on hold until we return on 12 January 2026. Any applications received after 19 December will be processed once we return on 12 January 2026.

Please note, although the standard application time takes up to sixteen weeks (80 business days), the period between 19 December and 12 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 by a superior court as a barrister, solicitor, advocate or attorney) or an overseas graduate (a person holding an LLB or equivalent law qualification, but who is not admitted by a superior court to practise as a barrister, solicitor, advocate or attorney) 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.

Please note the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) fee will be increasing from 1 July 2025 from $143 to $145 (GST inclusive).

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 admitted in Australia, 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 Law Society or the High Court for more information.