To qualify to practise as a principal a practitioner must have three years legal practice experience (out of the last eight years) in New Zealand. Applicants are then required to complete the "Flying Start" programme. An examination is overseen by New Zealand Law Society inspectors followed by an interview.

Applicant's Checklist

Eligibility

• You must have had three years New Zealand legal practice experience out of the last eight years (Practice Rules Regulations 12(1)(b), Reg 14).
• If you do not satisfy the work experience, you may apply to the High Court pursuant to Reg 13, Practice Rules Regulations.
• If you intend to apply to the High Court, you should advise the Society of your intention to do so.
• As part of the Court application process, the Society is required to indicate whether it has any objections to the Court granting an order.

Pre-requisites

• You must have completed this within three years of commencing practice pursuant to section 30, Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006.
• For further details on Flying Start, please contact the CLE Department.
• If you intend to be a sole practitioner with a trust account, or the trust account partner of a firm, you will need to pass the NZLS Trust Account Partner training programme. Please contact the NZLS for further information on this. Evidence of having passed the TAP assessment is required before an interview can be arranged.
• If you have previously passed the TAP assessment more than three years ago, but have never been appointed TAP of a firm, you will need to do a refresher course.
• If you have previously passed the TAP assessment and it has been more than 10 years since you held the position of TAP of a firm , you will need to do the refresher course.

The Process

• You will need to complete and return the Application Form and references (required from employers covering your last three years of employment).
• Once your Application Form has been received, your name will be advertised to the profession in Law Talk. A seven day period is allowed for responses or objections.
• A Trust Account examination form will be sent out to you and must be completed and returned.
• An interview will be conducted by an NZLS Inspector and a Branch Council appointed interviewer. The primary focus of the interview is to test your understanding of trust accounting and ethics.

Please Note:
There are a limited number of interview slots available each month (four) and they are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The approximate timeframe for processing an application is 6-8 weeks.

If you have any queries, please contact New Zealand Law Society