People who intend to be a partner in law firm, or a director of an incorporated law firm, or a sole practitioner (whether as a barrister and solicitor in sole practice or as a barrister sole), must complete a Stepping Up course (previously called Flying Start). A lawyer who completes a Stepping Up course can allow no more than two years to elapse before they commence practice on own account.
If you intend to be a sole practitioner with a trust account, or the trust account partner of a firm, you will need to complete this programme. Please contact the NZLS CLE for further information about the training course.
If you previously passed the TAS assessment you will need to do a refresher course if:
Despite the provisions of s30, you may practise on own account, if:
You must have three years’ (full time) legal experience in New Zealand, during the five years immediately before commencing practice on own account. For relevant legal experience refer r3 of the Practice Rules 2008
If you do not meet the “required minimum amount of recent legal experience” in New Zealand criterion in regulation 12(3) of the Practice Rules, you may apply to be considered under regulation 12A of the Practice Rules. An example of this might be where you have worked part-time; taken a break from practising law in New Zealand; returned to New Zealand after practising in an overseas jurisdiction, or for parental leave. For any application made under regulation 12A, please outline the reasons why you think that your application should be approved under this regulation. Each application is considered on its merits.
Please note that a lawyer who completes a Stepping Up course can allow no more than two years to elapse before they commence practice on own account.
You must state how you intend to practise on own account (for instance, in sole practice, as a partner in a law firm, or otherwise) and a business plan.
You must state the areas of law in which you intend to practise, with supporting information on your competency to do so, including at least two references in support, for each area of practise.