New Zealand Law Society - Admission Dates
Below are the key dates for group admission ceremonies in New Zealand's major centres.
In exceptional circumstances, ceremonies at other courts or on other dates may be able to be arranged. Contact the High Court or your local Law Society branch for more information.
The capacity of the Auckland High Court is limited. Applications that the High Court accepts for each admission ceremony are accepted at the discretion of the High Court Registrar.
Please be aware that if you are issued a certificate of character, we cannot guarantee there will be capacity at the Auckland High Court for you to be admitted on your intended ceremony date.
Regardless of where you reside or intend to practise, you may be admitted at any High Court in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 1 August 2025 and no later than 22 August 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 22 August 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: 24 October 2025
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 24 October 2025 and no later than 14 November 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 14 November 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: 30 January 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 16 January 2026 and no later than 5 February 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 5 February 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 10 April 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 27 March 2026 and no later than 17 April 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 17 April 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 19 June 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 29 May 2026 and no later than 19 June 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 19 June 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 21 August 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 31 July 2026 and no later than 21 August 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 21 August 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 23 October 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 25 August 2025 and no later than 5 September 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 19 September 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: 12 November 2025
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 5 December 2025 and no later than 19 December 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 2 January 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 6 February 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 19 December 2025 and no later than 2 January 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 16 January 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 20 February 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 25 January 2026 and no later than 8 February 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 22 February 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 26 March 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 20 February 2026 and no later than 6 March 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 20 March 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 22 April 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 6 March 2026 and no later than 20 March 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 3 April 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 5 May 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 3 April 2026 and no later than 17 April 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 1 May 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 3 June 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 1 May 2026 and no later than 15 May 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 29 May 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 31 June 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 19 June 2026 and no later than 3 July 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 17 July 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 18 August 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 31 July 2026 and no later than 14 August 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 28 August 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 30 September 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 21 August 2026 and no later than 4 September 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 18 September 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 20 October 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 11 September 2026 and no later than 25 September 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 9 October 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 11 November 2026
These dates may be subject to change due to judicial resourcing.
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 30 June 2025 and no later than 21 July 2025
Last day for Referee reports to arrive: 21 July 2025
Last day to file documents at High Court: 22 September 2025
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 17 March 2026 and no later than 7 April 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 7 April 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 8 June 2026
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 23 June 2026 and no later than 14 July 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 14 July 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 14 September 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 23 March 2026 and no later than 13 April 2026
Last day for Referee reports to arrive: 13 April 2026
Last day to file documents at High Court: 15 June 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 6 October 2025
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 26 January 2026 and no later than 17 February 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 17 February 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 20 April 2026
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 20 July2026 and no later than 10 August 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 10 August 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 12 October 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than Monday 12 May 2025 and no later than Monday 02nd June 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: Monday 2 June 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: Monday 11 August 2025
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 2 March 2026 and no later than 23 March 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 23 March 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 25 May 2026
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 2 June 2026 and no later than 23 June 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 23 June 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 24 August 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than Monday 28 July 2025 and no later than Monday 18 August 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: Monday 18 August 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: Monday 20 October 2025
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 17 February 2026 and no later than 10 March 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 10 March 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 11 May 2026
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 4 August 2026 and no later than 25 August 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 25 August 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 26 October 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 30 May 2025 and no later than 20 June 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 20 June 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: 29 August 2025
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 15 August 2025 and no later than 05 September 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 05 September 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: 07 November 2025
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 21 November 2025 and no later than 12 December 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 12 December 2025
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 13 February 2026
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 20 February 2026 and no later than 13 March 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 13 March 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 15 May 2026
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 5 June 2026 and no later than 26 June 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 26 June 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 28 August 2026
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 14 August 2026 and no later than 4 September 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 4 September 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 6 November 2026
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 Monday 16 June 2025 and no later than Monday 7 July 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: Monday 7 July 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: Monday 8 September 2025
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 3 March 2026 and no later than 24 March 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 24 March 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 26 May 2026
Application to branch for Certificate of Character: No earlier than 23 June 2026 and no later than 14 July 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 14 July 2026
Last date to file documents at the High Court: 15 September 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 4 August 2025 and no later than 5 September 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 19 September 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: 7 November 2025
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 17 November 2025 and no later than 19 December 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 23 December 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: 27 February 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 16 February 2026 and no later than 20 March 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 2 April 2026 - Easter
Last date to file documents at High Court: 22 May 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 11 May 2026 and no later than 5 June 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 19 June 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 14 August 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 27 July 2026 and no later than 21 August 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 4 September 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 30 October 2026
Please see important points to note to assist with completing the application.
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 19 November 2025 and no later than 10 December 2025
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 10 December 2025
Last date to file documents at High Court: 10 February 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 17 March 2026 and no later than 7 April 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 7 April 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 9 June 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 8 July 2026 and no later than 29 July 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 29 July 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 30 September 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 22 December 2025 and no later than 12 January 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 12 January 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 16 March 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 17 February 2026 and no later than 10 March 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 10 March 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 12 May 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 14 April 2026 and no later than 5 May 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 5 May 2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 7 July 2026
Applications to branch for Certificates of Character: No earlier than 4 August 2026 and no later than 25 August 2026
Last date for Referee reports to arrive: 25 August2026
Last date to file documents at High Court: 27 October 2026