Certificates of standing
New Zealand practitioners planning to work overseas and seeking admission in another jurisdiction (including admission in Australia under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act) may be asked to produce a Certificate of Standing from New Zealand.
In most jurisdictions the Certificate of Standing must be less than 30 days old, so get together all the documentation you need and apply only when you are almost ready to be admitted. (It is your obligation to seek information about the jurisdictional requirements for admission.)
For a certificate issued by the New Zealand Law Society you can:
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fill in the necessary form (pdf format)
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send a fax to (04) 473 7909
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apply by mail to PO Box 5041, Lambton Quay, Wellington 6145.
You can also fill out and submit a request for a certificate of standing online.
The cost per Certificate is $NZ30, payable at time of application. You can pay this directly to the New Zealand Law Society's bank account (No: 123140.0119103.07) or mail the cheque to the NZLS. If you pay by bank transfer you must include your name and the reference "COS" on the bank detail.
To speed the process, you will need details of:
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when and where you were admitted in the High Court
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the district law societies where Practising Certificates have been held
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the years they were held.
Inquiries must be made in all applicable districts and accurate information will speed the process.
Note: Applicants who have not held a Practising Certificate in New Zealand are encouraged to apply directly to the High Court for a copy of their Order of Admission, in lieu of a Certificate of Standing.