Below are the key dates for group admission ceremonies in New Zealand's major centres.
Ceremonies at all other courts are arranged on a one-off basis as required. Contact the High Court or your local Law Society branch for more information
The capacity of the Auckland High Court is limited to 130 people per admission. As a result, the Law Society may be required to limit the number of certificate of character applications it accepts for each admission for the Auckland High Court, on a first-come-first-served basis.
Applications received by the Auckland Branch once this limit has been reached may not be accepted and may need to be resubmitted for another admission. In addition, please be aware, an issued certificate of character is not a guarantee there will be capacity at the High Court for you to be admitted on your intended ceremony date.
Any referee reports received after capacity has been reached will be placed on file for any future applications with the Law Society.
Regardless of where you reside or intend to practise, you may be admitted at any High Court in Aotearoa New Zealand from a certificate of character issued by another branch of the Law Society.
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: Applications have now closed, capacity has been reached.
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 26 April 2024
Please note: Any references received without an application will be held on file for any future application made.
Last date to file documents at High Court: 21 June 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 7 June 2024 and no later than 28 June 2024
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 28 June 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 23 August 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 16 August 2024 and no later than 6 September 2024
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 6 September 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 1 November 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 24 October and no later than 3 November
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 17 November 2023
Last date to file documents at High Court: 16 January 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 27 November 2023 and no later than 8 December 2023
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 22 December 2023
Last date to file documents at High Court: 22 February 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 3 January 2024 and no later than 12 January 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 26 January 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 19 March 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 26 January 2024 and no later than 9 February 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 23 February 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 17 April 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 19 Feb 2024 and no later than 1 March 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 15 March 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 14 May 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 25 March 2024 and no later than 5 April 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 19 April 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 12 June 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 6 May 2024 and no later than 17 May 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 31 May 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 23 July 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 10 June 2024 and no later than 21 June 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 5 July 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 27 August 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 8 July 2024 and no later than 19 July 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 2 August 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 25 September 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 29 July 2024 and no later than 9 August 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 23 August 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 15 October 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 26 Augsut 2024 and no later than 6 September 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 20 September 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 13 November 2024
All enquires regarding Hawkes Bay admissions please contact the Auckland Branch.
Phone: 09 304 1000
Email: aucklandregistry@lawsociety.org.nz
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 16 February 2024 and no later than 18 March 2024
Last day for Referee Reports to arrive: 1 April 2024
Last day to file documents at High Court: 16 May 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 21 June 2024 and no later than 22 July 2024
Last day for Referee Reports to arrive: 5 August 2024
Last day to file documents at High Court: 20 September 2024
Admission Date: Friday, 3 November 2023
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than Friday 7 July 2023 and no later than Friday 4 August 2023
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: Friday 4 August 2023
Last date to file documents at High Court: Friday 6 October 2023
Admission Date: Monday 17 June 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than Monday 19 February 2024 and no later than Monday 18 March 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: Monday 18 March 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: Monday 20 May 2024
Admission Date: Monday 30 September 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than Monday 3 June 2024 and no later than Monday 1 July 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: Monday 1 July 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: Monday 2 September 2024
Admission Date: Monday 10 June 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than Monday 12 February 2024 and no later than Monday 11 March 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: Monday 11 March 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: Monday 13 May 2024
Admission Date: Monday 18 November 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than Monday 22 July 2024 and no later than Monday 19 August 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: Monday 19 August 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: Monday 21 October 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier 11 August 2023 and no later than 1 September 2023
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 1 September 2023
Last date to file documents at High Court: 10 November 2023
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier 17 November 2023 and no later than 8 December 2023
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 8 December 2023
Last date to file documents at High Court: 16 February 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier 23 February 2024 and no later than 15 March 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 15 March 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 24 May 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier 24 May 2024 and no later than 14 June 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 14 June 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 23 August 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier 9 August 2024 and no later than 30 August 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 30 August 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 8 November 2024
Please see the information for applicants applying to the Wellington branch for a Certificate of Character.
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 13 November 2023 and no later than 22 December 2023
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 22 December 2023
Last date to file documents at High Court: 23 February 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 19 February 2024 and no later than 22 March 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 5 April 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 24 May 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 20 May 2024 and no later than 21 June 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 5 July 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 23 August 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 5 August 2024 and no later than 6 September 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 20 September 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 8 November 2024
Please see information to assist with filing court documents from the Christchurch High Court.
Please see important points to note to assist with completing the application.
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 29 May 2023 and no later than 23 June 2023
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 23 June 2023
Late date to file documents at High Court: 21 July 2022
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 24 July 2023 and no later than 18 August 2023
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 18 August 2023
Late date to file documents at High Court: 15 September 2023
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No later than 1 December 2023
Last date to file documents at High Court: 19 January 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No later than 12 April 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 17 May 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No later than 7 June 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 12 July 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No later than 2 August 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 6 September 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 22 April 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 7 October 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 21 July 2023 and no later than 18 August 2023.
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 18 August 2023
Last date to file documents at High Court: 20 October 2023
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 23 February 2024 and no later than 15 March 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 15 March 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 24 May 2024
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 1 June 2024 and no later than 1 July 2024
Last date for Referee Reports to arrive: 1 July 2024
Last date to file documents at High Court: 7 September 2024