A Legal Aid Provider Certificate of Standing is required by the Ministry of Justice for those applying to be a legal aid provider.

You must hold a current practising certificate with the New Zealand Law Society to be eligible to apply.

Please note that a Legal Aid Provider Certificate of Standing is valid for 3 months only. Certificates must be filed with the Ministry of Justice within this 3-month period.

You will need to allow 1-2 weeks processing time.

Once processed, your certificate will be emailed to you directly.

The Certificate of Standing covers open complaints, upheld complaints and disciplinary tribunal matters from 1 August 2008 and any disciplinary charges before the New Zealand Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal under the Law Practitioners Act 1982.

What to supply

To speed the process, you will need to provide:

• your date of admission in New Zealand
• your place of admission (ie, which New Zealand High Court)
• names of all former district Law Societies from which you have held a practising certificate prior to 2008
• the years you held these practising certificates

Cost

The cost is payable at time of application.

Payment

Payment can be made by credit card, debit card or bank transfer. Payment made by credit card or debit card will incur a card payment surcharge. Instructions regarding payment options will be emailed to you within three working days of receiving your application.