Yes, it is possible to be exempted if you can demonstrate that you have acquired practical legal experience by other means. If you are already admitted to practise and have been actively working in the legal profession, that is generally considered sufficient. Additionally, if you have completed a professional legal training course in your home jurisdiction—such as the Legal Practice Course (LPC) in the United Kingdom—that will typically meet the requirement.

Yes. All applicants must complete the application form provided in Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education’s (NZCLE) Assessment of Overseas Law Qualifications Information Brochure.The Council states, “You may also attach a covering letter if you wish.”NZLPE PREP strongly recommends including a covering letter to provide context and strengthen your application. You can download the brochure and access the application form here:

The Council has the authority to require candidates to complete additional university study if their degree is found not to be equivalent to a New Zealand LLB. There are two aspects of equivalency: subject equivalence and degree equivalence. You must demonstrate both in order to receive an assessment outcome that does not involve returning to university. NZLPE PREP can assist you in achieving the best possible result, based on your qualifications and personal circumstances.

In most cases, no. Nearly all candidates are required to sit the full Legal Practice Examination (LPE). In our experience, exemptions are extremely rare. The few candidates who have received exemptions typically fall into one of the following categories: Those who have taught or tutored a core legal subject based on New Zealand law at a recognised New Zealand university; or Those who hold a New Zealand LLB that is considered "stale" but can demonstrate recent, relevant legal experience or ongoing professional learning in the subject area. As noted in Section 6 of the Assessment of Overseas Law Qualifications Information Brochure: “Exemptions from parts of the NZLP Examination are rare. However, exemptions are sometimes granted where an applicant has been teaching or tutoring for a period of time in one of the core law subjects at a New Zealand University, or where an applicant has attained extensive work experience in a core law area in New Zealand.”

Yes. There are several ways we can help you ensure your application is complete and professionally prepared. Furthermore, if you wish to maximise your chances of receiving a favourable outcome, it is important to go beyond simply submitting the required documents. For most candidates, the best expected result is an assessment requiring them to sit the six parts of the Legal Practice Examination (LPE).

In addition to demonstrating that your degree is equivalent to a New Zealand LLB, there are several other requirements you must meet. You must provide evidence that you: Completed a course in Legal Ethics; Have practical legal experience or completed a professional legal training course (often referred to as a “Profs” course); Are fluent in English. If you are admitted to practise in another country, you must also demonstrate that admission and confirm that you remain in good standing with the relevant regulatory body. If you are relying on post-admission legal experience to support your application—which may strengthen your case for equivalency and/or satisfy the practical experience requirement—you must submit clear evidence of that experience. While the Council does not typically consider pre-admission work experience, it is still worthwhile to include a description in your application, as it may enhance your overall profile as a candidate.

Yes, an exemption may be granted if you can demonstrate that you have already satisfied the requirement through other means. If you are admitted to practise and have relevant experience, or if you completed a standalone Legal Ethics course alongside your degree, you may qualify for an exemption. Alternatively, if you can provide evidence of comparable training, that may also be considered. However, having completed an LLB that merely included aspects of ethics as part of broader subjects is not sufficient on its own.

The first step towards admission in New Zealand is to submit an Application for Assessment of your Qualifications. This process is overseen by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE), the statutory body responsible for evaluating overseas legal qualifications. You can find detailed information and access the necessary forms on their official website:

According to Section 10 of the Assessment of Overseas Law Qualifications Information Brochure, the processing time is a minimum of 16 weeks (approximately four months) for candidates who are not already admitted in another jurisdiction. And yes, it genuinely does take that long. If you are already admitted in another country, the process may take slightly longer due to an additional step involving the New Zealand Law Society.

Yes. You have the flexibility to decide how many parts of the LPE you wish to sit during each examination sitting. However, you must be mindful of the relevant deadlines for submitting your paperwork. If you are sitting the exams in New Zealand, the deadline is typically one month prior to the examination date. If you are sitting the exams overseas, the deadline is usually three months in advance.

There are a few reasons why a candidate might choose to do so. In some cases, individuals face pressure from their employer to complete the LPE and any additional requirements as quickly as possible. In other instances, candidates may have received their Assessment Result several years earlier but, for various reasons, only begin the examination process when they are nearing the end of the ten-year deadline.

You have ten years from the date you receive your Assessment Result to complete all requirements imposed by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education and obtain your Completion Certificate.

Technically, you are eligible to sit the LPE as soon as you submit your Application for Assessment. However, the New Zealand Council of Legal Education advises against doing so (see Section 6 of the Assessment of Overseas Law Qualifications Information Brochure). The reason for this caution is that, even if you pass an LPE exam, the Council may still assess you as needing to complete university-level study in that subject. In such a case, passing the exam would not exempt you from the additional study requirement.

Yes, it is permitted to sit all six parts of the LPE in a single sitting. However, this is not generally recommended—either by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education or by NZLPE PREP. Each candidate's ability to prepare effectively varies and is influenced by factors such as prior legal education, work experience, and how closely your law school curriculum aligns with New Zealand law. For personalised guidance on how to approach the LPE based on your background and circumstances, click the button below to schedule a one-on-one consultation.

There are many factors that influence these decisions, and they vary from person to person. For example, if you have been assessed with four parts of the LPE and two university subjects, your approach will differ significantly from someone required to sit all six parts. Likewise, if you are working full-time or have family commitments, your study plan will look very different from that of a recent graduate with flexible time. Two of the LPE exams are open book, while four are closed book, which may influence how you group or schedule your exams. Your personal strengths also matter—if you performed exceptionally well in Contract Law but struggled with Criminal Law, that could guide your decision on where to begin. For personalised advice on how best to approach the LPE and meet your additional requirements, click the button below to schedule a one-on-one consultation.

Yes, occasionally. Some candidates choose to sit one or more parts of the LPE before their Assessment Result is issued. NZLPE PREP can assist you in determining whether this approach is appropriate based on the strength of your application. Drawing on years of experience supporting candidates through this process, we can provide informed guidance—with a high degree of certainty—on the likely outcome of your assessment. This enables you to make an educated decision about the level of risk involved in sitting the examination early.

The pass mark for each LPE exam is 50 marks.

You may currently sit the exams at any New Zealand law school, at the designated UK location, or in your home country. Previously, candidates were only permitted to sit the exams in New Zealand or the United Kingdom. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council introduced the option to sit the exams in your home country—provided you assume full responsibility for arranging the sitting and covering any associated costs. For the most up-to-date requirements and approval process, please refer to the New Zealand Council of Legal Education’s website, or schedule a consultation with NZLPE PREP for personalised guidance. Please note that the Council may revoke the home country sitting option at any time.

Unfortunately, no. At present, neither the Council nor any affiliated organisation offers tuition or financial assistance for LPE exam fees. The New Zealand Council of Legal Education does provide partial refunds in certain circumstances—for example, if you are unable to sit an exam due to illness or other serious complications after registering. You should consult the Council's website for the most up-to-date refund policies and eligibility criteria.

There are currently two sittings each year. At present, the New Zealand Council of Legal Education holds examinations in July and November. Traditionally, the sittings were held in February and July, but disruptions caused by COVID-19 have resulted in changes to the schedule. Please note that there is no guarantee the current July/November timetable will remain in place. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult the Council’s website.

In such circumstances, the Council offers what is known as a Concession Pass. However, you must submit your request within seven days of sitting the exam. It is generally advised that you attempt the exam if you are able, as there is always a chance you may still pass. NZLPE PREP offers support in preparing your Concession Pass request. You may schedule a consultation either prior to the exam or shortly afterwards for assistance with this process.

Formally, no. NZLPE PREP does not coordinate overseas sittings directly. However, where possible, we are happy to connect candidates who are known to be making arrangements in the same country or region. There are a few locations—such as Mauritius—where multiple candidates consistently sit the exams, and collaboration can sometimes assist with logistics.

No. All LPE examinations are handwritten.

Yes, you may re-sit any LPE exam that you do not pass. However, it is strongly recommended that you consult with NZLPE PREP before doing so. In certain cases, a Compensation Pass may be available—for example, if you pass five out of six exams, or three out of four, depending on the number you are required to sit. There are multiple factors that influence the likelihood of the Council granting a Compensation Pass. In some circumstances, re-sitting an exam may reduce your chances of being eligible for this consideration. Therefore, it is important to seek guidance before deciding whether to re-sit.

It depends on the time of year. One drawback of the November sitting is that the Council offices close for an extended period over December and January. For example, results from the November 2022 exams were not released until 1 February 2023. As a general guideline, you should expect to wait a minimum of one month for your results. On average, the turnaround time is approximately six weeks.

If you fail an exam, you should promptly request a copy of your exam script along with the examiner’s comments. These documents are valuable tools for understanding why you received a failing mark and for identifying areas to improve before re-sitting the exam. As of January 2023, the Council now includes your actual mark in your Result Notification, along with instructions on how to request your script and comments. Important: You must submit your request within one month of receiving your Result Notification. Late requests will not be accepted.

You must now apply for a Completion Certificate from the New Zealand Council of Legal Education. You cannot proceed with the admission process until you receive this final document. Please be aware that around the December holiday period, the Council imposes a cut-off date for receiving Completion Certificate applications. It is important to plan accordingly. Once you have received your Completion Certificate, you will need to determine how and where in New Zealand you intend to apply for admission. This requires forward planning, as you must submit your application for admission in accordance with the prescribed deadlines—and you cannot apply until your Completion Certificate has been issued. The admission process is primarily structured for New Zealand LLB graduates, so LPE candidates must align with the existing schedule and requirements. You may schedule a consultation with NZLPE PREP for personalised assistance with both the Completion Certificate and admission application processes.

Yes. Based on years of experience reviewing examiner comments and analysing different examiners’ marking styles, NZLPE PREP can help you identify where you may have gone wrong and what areas require improvement. This support can be especially valuable in preparing to re-sit the exam or apply for a Compensation Pass, where appropriate.