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Is law for you?
To be a good lawyer… | Training in the law | Career options (including para-legal careers)
A lawyer is ...
... a highly trained specialist who will give advice on the best course of action a client can taken in matters relating to the law. Lawyers work professionally and independently to look after the interests of others. Lawyers trained in New Zealand are qualified to practise as both barristers and solicitors.
A barrister ... works mainly in the courts and tribunals. Their work includes presenting evidence, making submissions on behalf of their clients, representing parties in criminal trials, handling domestic disputes in Family Courts, dealing with civil claims for damages and compensation.
A solicitor ... may be involved in general advisory work, property transactions, estates, arranging finance and commercial work. They may also be involved in drafting wills, administering estates, advising on tax, forming companies, making contracts and raising or securing loans.
Lawyers can work as barristers or solicitors and many of them are in private practice. There are growing opportunities to work outside traditional private practice.
To be a good lawyer ...
... you need high academic standards. Each university law school sets its own entry criteria - see the individual university websites (listed below) for further information. In your first year at university you must get high grades to be considered for further law study.
You need more than academic ability to be a good lawyer. If you think law might be for you, think about whether you have the following skills:
Communication skills
- Speaking
- Writing
- Explaining
- Understanding
- Listening
Personal qualities
- Sincerity
- Patience
- Confidence
- Organisation
- Reliability
- Hardworking
- Honesty
Academic skills
- Interpreting
- Good memory
- Numeracy
- Analysing
Training in the law
To practise as a lawyer you must:
- hold a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB), from Auckland, Waikato, Victoria, Canterbury or Otago University. This normally takes four years of full time study. For further information about the courses, check out the links to the university websites.
- complete a practical course administered by the Institute of Professional Legal Studies(IPLS) or the College of Law New Zealand.
- be admitted to the roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand.
- hold a current practising certificate from the district law society in which you have your "principal place of business".
Students often fulfil more than these minimum requirements and complete a double degree such as BA/LLB, or study for Honours or postgraduate study in law. With these broader qualifications there is greater opportunity in the employment market.
Career options
Legal graduates work in a wide range of areas:
- private practice
- parliamentary drafting
- the public service
- public companies
- university teaching
- the judiciary
- research
- law reform
- local government
- state-owned enterprises.
Para-legal careers ...
Some people are interested in the law but choose not to train and practise as a lawyer. There are opportunities to work as a court reporter, legal secretary, court registrar or legal executive.
Law in Schools Project
The Law in Schools Project is a new initiative based in Wellington. Havings its first year in 2008, it is designed to educate Year 13 students about New Zealand's legal system.
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