Going out on your own in NZ: what you need

What the Law Society asks for

• A Stepping Up course, if you intend to be a sole practitioner, a law firm partner or an incorporated law firm director. No more than two years should pass between finishing the course and starting on your own account.
• Recent New Zealand experience: three years' full-time legal experience in New Zealand during the five years immediately before you start. If you do not meet this, you can apply and the Law Society considers each application on its merits.
• A statement of how you intend to practise, and a business plan.
• The areas of law you intend to practise in, with information supporting your competence in each, including at least two references per area.
• Trust account supervisor training, if you intend to hold a trust account as a sole practitioner.

Exceptions

The Law Society lists a few exceptions to the experience rule, for example for lawyers who lawfully practised on their own account within the last 10 years, or who are entitled to practise in a comparable way in an Australian jurisdiction. Read its page to see whether one applies to you.

Where to start

Check your experience against the three-year rule first, because it is the one thing you cannot speed up. Then plan the Stepping Up course, the business plan and the trust account training.

Getting your first clients

Lawmateanz is a new directory that matches people with independent lawyers. Listing is free, and your first client match is free. After that there is a flat monthly fee, with no commission on your fees. We check practising certificates before listing anyone. Client requests depend on demand in your area and are not guaranteed.