Over the years Jennifer Tate Thompson, now NZLPE PREP, has received and answered many questions about the NZLPE. Below is a list of the most common queries organised by topic.
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Due to the volume of questions, please note that NZLPE PREP's policy is to answer two questions via email with every purchase of $200.00.
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Beyond two questions you will be required to schedule a consultation.
FAQs
Application for Assessment of Qualifications
I want to get admitted to practise in NZ, but I am not sure where to start. What do I do?
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The first step to getting admitted in NZ is to submit an Application for Assessment of your Qualifications. The NZ Council of Legal Education is the government body in charge of the assessment process. Here is the Council’s website https://nzcle.org.nz/index.html
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Is there a form to use for my Application?
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All applicants must complete the application form in Schedule 1 of the Council’s Admission Brochure. Get a copy here. The Council states “You may also attach a covering letter if you wish.” NZLPE PREP highly recommends submitting your application with a covering letter.
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How long does the Council take to process my Application?
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As stated in Section 10 of the Admission Brochure, 16 weeks minimum for non-admitted candidates. 16 weeks = 4 months. And yes, they really do take that long! If you are admitted in another country, it takes a little bit longer because there is an extra step involving the NZ Law Society.
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Does NZLPE PREP provide assistance with my Application?
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Yes! There are a few options on how we can help you make sure your application is in order. Click here for more information.
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Furthermore, you should go a step further than just turning in the required documents, if you want to increase the odds of getting a “good” result. For the majority of candidates the best expected result is that you will be assessed with having to sit the 6 Parts of the LPE.
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Download the full FAQs for more information on possible assessment results.
NZCLE, New Zealand Council of Legal Education,
NZCL, New Zealand Council of Law, NZ,
New Zealand Property Law, New Zealand Criminal Law, Council, Prescription, Waikato, NZLPE,
NZLPE online preparation, zealand, IPLS,
PLSC, solicitor, barrister, Jennifer Tate Thompson
LPE – Preliminary Decisions
When can I sit for the LPE?
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Technically, as soon as you submit your Application for Assessment you are eligible to sit the exams. Please note that the Council warns against doing so (see Section 6 of the Admission Brochure). The reason the Council dissuades this is because if you sit an exam before you get your Assessment Result, even if you pass that exam, if the Council assesses you with having to do degree study for the subject, you will still have to do that degree study regardless of the fact that you successfully passed the exam.
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Can I take all 6 Parts of the LPE at once?
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Yes, you can, but it is not advised by the Council, or by NZLPE PREP in most circumstances. Everyone’s ability to prepare for these exams is different, and will be influenced by how similar your law school courses were to NZ’s. For a one-on-one discussion of how you should best tackle the LPE, schedule a consultation here.
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Can I decide whether to take 1 Part, or 3 Parts, etc?
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Yes. You decide which part(s) you want to sit for each sitting. Just be mindful of the deadlines to get your paperwork in. If you are sitting in NZ it is usually 1 month prior to the exams, and if you are sitting overseas it is usually 3 months prior to.
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How do I decide which exam to take first, whether to take multiple exams, etc?
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There are a lot of factors that influence these decisions, which are different for each person. If you are assessed with 4 parts of the LPE and 2 subjects at university, your decision-making process will be different from someone taking all 6 parts. If you are working full-time and/or have family commitments, your decision-making process will be different from someone fresh out of school with unlimited study time.
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There are 2 exams that are open book and 4 exams that are closed book. That impacts how you pair up exams. If you excelled at Contracts in law school but were weak at Criminal Law, that could impact which exams you take first.
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For a one-on-one discussion of how you should best tackle the LPE and any other requirements, schedule a consultation here.
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Download the full FAQ for more information on preliminary decisions.
LPE – Sitting the Exams
How many sittings a year are there?
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2. Currently the Council is holding sittings in July and November. Consult their website for specific dates. Traditionally sittings were in February and July; however, disruptions due to Covid have changed the schedule. There is no guarantee that the July/November schedule will stay the same.
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Where can I sit?
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Currently you can sit at any NZ law school or overseas – either at the UK location or in your home country. Previously there was not an option to sit in your home country. You either had to go to NZ or the UK. During Covid the Council added the option of sitting in your home country, if you take on the cost and responsibility of setting it up. Refer to the Council’s website for those requirements, or schedule a consultation with NZLPE PREP
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Please be aware that the Council could revoke the home country option at any time.
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What is the pass mark?
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50 marks.
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If I fail an exam, can I sit it again?
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Yes. However, you should consult with NZLPE PREP before doing so. There is a Compensation Pass available once you pass 5 out of the 6 exams (or 3 out of 4 for example, if you are only required to sit 4); however, there are multiple factors that impact the likelihood of the Council granting you this pass. So you should avoid re-sitting an exam in certain circumstances, and repeated attempts can make it less likely that you will be able to get the Compensation Pass.
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Download full FAQs for more information on exam complications.
LPE – After the Exam
What should I do if I fail an exam?
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You should always submit a request for a copy of your exam script and also get the Examiner’s Comments. These are helpful tools in figuring out why you received a failing mark, and what you can do to improve for next time.
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Beginning January 2023 the Council now includes your actual mark in the Result Notification, as well as instructions on how to request scripts/comments.
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NOTE: You must submit these requests within 1 month of receiving your Result Notification.
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How long does it take to get a Result Notification after sitting an exam?
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Depend on the time of the year! The drawback of a November sitting is that the Council offices close for an extended period of time over December/January, so for example the November 2022 exam results did not come out until 1 February 2023.
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You should plan on a minimum of 1 month to get results and on average 1.5 months.
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Does NZLPE PREP offer advice on why I failed an examination?