Working from your practice in New Zealand

New Zealand lawyers (that is, persons who hold a current practising certificate in New Zealand) are regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. If they provide legal services in another jurisdiction from their places of business in New Zealand, or they establish a commercial presence in another jurisdiction they will also be subject to the regulatory regime of that jurisdiction. They should check with the appropriate regulatory authority in that jurisdiction as to what the regulatory requirements are. They may be required to register as foreign lawyers, or to undertake qualification examinations.

Working in another jurisdiction

If you are an enrolled barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand living and working in another jurisdiction you are able to apply for a New Zealand practising certificate. You may hold a New Zealand practising certificate at the same time as holding a practising certificate in another jurisdicition.

New Zealand lawyers working in foreign jurisdictions where they are not, or not yet, admitted/entitled to practise may be required to register as foreign lawyers and regulated as such by the host jurisdiction. Regimes vary, so it pays to check in advance.

Admission to practise in another jurisdiction

Information about regulatory regimes in other jurisdictions is available from their regulatory authorities.

Australia

New Zealand lawyers can apply for registration (admission and practising certificate) in any of the states and territories of Australia under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (TTMRA). The TTMRA offers a fast-track process, just as it does for Australian practitioners seeking admission here.

In all the Australian state and territory jurisdictions except Victoria and Queensland, practitioners are admitted as both barristers and solicitors. Victoria and Queensland have a separate bar.

As the application requirements differ between States, initial inquiries should be made to the appropriate regulatory body.

Australian Regulatory Authorities for New Zealand lawyers seeking registration under the TTMRA

England and Wales

• The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
• The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) assessment website — The SQE is provided by Kaplan SQE Ltd., working with, and on behalf of, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This website provides information about the SQE, assessment arrangements and registration. It does not provide preparation and training courses for the SQE, which although not required, are available through other providers.

For information about making an individual exemption application, please refer to the links above.

Other jurisdictions

contact regulatory@lawsociety.org.nz

Certificate of Standing

In most cases you will be required, as part of your application for admission in another jurisdiction, to produce a Certificate of Standing from New Zealand. You can apply online.