FAQs
Enrolling
When should I enrol?
You can enrol in Profs anytime – you don’t need to have finished your LLB. Popular dates can fill up quickly so we recommend enrolling early to secure your space. We’ll reserve your spot, and you won’t have to pay your fees until shortly before your course starts (which can be via StudyLink -see FAQ below).
Just make sure that your start date for the course is after you’ve either sat your last LLB exam or handed in your last piece of coursework for your LLB. You can start as soon as you have finished your LLB – you don’t have to wait until you get your results.
How do I enrol?
Click here to go to our online enrolment form and enrol today.
Once you have submitted your online enrolment form, we will respond to you within 10 working days with confirmation of your place in your requested course. If the class you have selected is full, we will suggest an alternative.
Do I need any documentation to enrol?
No, once you have submitted your online enrolment form, we will respond to you within 10 working days with email confirmation of your place in your requested course. If the class you have selected is full, we will suggest an alternative. This email includes important information that you need to arrange in order to confirm your enrolment, including proof of residency, course fee payment and StudyLink. IPLS will contact your university directly to confirm completion of your LLB.
Approximately, one week before your course starts you will receive a welcome email from IPLS that sets out all the information you need to get started. This email will include your individual log-in details for the IPLS learning management platform.
Can I start Profs while finishing my final paper?
While you can enrol in Profs at anytime, you can’t physically start the course until you’ve finished your LLB. You don’t, however, have to wait for your results, you can get started as soon as you’ve sat your last LLB exam or handed in your last piece of coursework for your LLB.
What happens if I start Profs and then find out I have failed a final paper?
Don’t worry – let us know as soon as you become aware, and we’ll put your course on hold until you have been able to re-do the paper. You’ll retain recognition of any seminars you have completed successfully.
How are my fees protected?
IPLS uses the Public Trust Fee Protect service to provide an independent trust account for the protection of trainee fees. This ensures sufficient monies are available at all times to refund the ‘unexpired’ portion of fees in the unlikely event we are not able to deliver your complete course. Public Trust is a government owned Trustee Company which has been in existence for more than 145 years. More information about Fee Protect is available on its website, publictrust.co.nz. Once you have enrolled at IPLS you will be sent a 'Fee Protect Student Acknowledgment' form to complete and return to us. Your fees, including those paid by StudyLink or your employer, are deposited directly into the trust account. In the unlikely event of a course closure you may be required to attend a meeting arranged by the trustee or by NZQA. For more information on Student Fee Protection, refer to the NZQA website.
Can I obtain a student loan and allowance?
All IPLS courses qualify for student loans and allowances. To apply, contact StudyLink on 0800 88 99 00, or log onto studylink.govt.nz to pay your course fee by student loan or to apply for a student allowance. StudyLink will pay your course fee directly into the Public Trust Fee Protect bank account.
What happens once I have enrolled?
Once you have submitted your online enrolment form, we will respond to you within 10 working days with email confirmation of your place in your requested course. If the class you have selected is full, we will suggest an alternative. This email includes important information that is required in order to confirm your enrolment – it includes proof of residency, course fee payment, StudyLink. IPLS will contact your university directly to confirm completion of your LLB.
Approximately, one week before your course starts you will receive a welcome email from IPLS that sets out all the information you need to get started. This email will include your individual log-in details for the IPLS learning management platform.
What prerequisites exist for doing the course?
It is a prerequisite for enrolment at IPLS that you are eligible for the award of an LLB degree. As part of the enrolment process, IPLS will contact your university directly to confirm completion of your LLB.
If you have an overseas qualification, you may have to meet requirements specified by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education before you are eligible to attend the course. Visit nzcle.org.nz for more information.
What are ‘stale’ qualifications?
The New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE) has imposed restrictions on the currency of qualifications and certificates. In any case where a ‘qualification for admission’ is more than 10 years old at the time when a candidate for admission applies to the NZCLE for a Certificate, the NZCLE may, in its discretion, assess the qualification, and may impose further study or training on the candidate. In the case of a New Zealand degree holder, a ’qualification for admission‘ includes an LLB or LLB (Honours) degree, a core subject studied in your first, second or third year of your LLB, Legal Ethics, and the Professional Legal Studies Course. Qualifications may have become ‘stale’ prior to application for a completion certificate, and in such cases, the NZCLE has a discretion to impose further degree courses, or to require passing of an examination in the law and practice of New Zealand, or a legal ethics course, or the Professional Legal Studies Course.
Course
How is the online course structured?
The online course is made up of two different types of seminars:
- The first type of seminars are document based. In these seminars you will complete tasks and submit work to a drop box on the IPLS Learning Management Platform. Your instructor will review your work, provide feedback to you and assess your skill development. This work is completed within prescribed deadlines but you can choose when and where you complete your work as long as you meet the set deadlines.
- The second type of seminars are performance-based. These involve three seminars (Negotiation, Trial Preparation & Advocacy and Interviewing) where, after practicing the required skill, you conduct a live demonstration based on assessment scenario and receive feedback from your instructor. These seminars are delivered partly via the Learning Management Platform and partly via Zoom meetings. Attendance at these Zoom meetings is compulsory as they involve important practice and assessment, often in pairs or groups. Zoom meetings are between 30 minutes and 3 hours long and are scheduled in advance of the seminar by your instructor.
- You can choose whether you do an online course with Daytime Zoom meetings or evening / weekend Zoom meetings
- Daytime Zoom meetings are held in business hours
- Evening / weekend Zoom meetings are held on weekday evenings and during the day on Saturdays
How can I make the most of online learning:
- Plan your time. Don’t wait until the deadline to submit work, in case you have a problem (technical or otherwise).
- Check course messages and emails regularly
- Keep in touch with your instructor and supportive co-trainees.
- If you are working, talk to your manager about regular time off to complete your Profs tasks. If you need help with this, please contact us on info@ipls.org.nz or 0800 776 376, we are happy to provide a letter for your employer confirming your study dates and recommended time commitment required, so that you can request an appropriate level of study leave.
What equipment will I need for the course?
- A computer with a camera
- A current email address
- Microsoft Word - so you can view, edit and create word documents.
- Acrobat Reader - so that you can view files in PDF format. The free Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from adobe.com.
Can I transfer between courses?
You may transfer from one intake to another up until the day before the start date of the course you are enrolled in and you will not be charged a transfer fee.
If you request a transfer to a later intake, before 5pm on the tenth day of the course, you may only do so if the National Director consents to such a transfer. There is no transfer fee payable. If you request a transfer to a later intake, after 5pm on the tenth day of the course, you may only do so if the National Director consents to such a transfer. Where consent is granted a transfer fee is payable.
All transfers are subject to spaces being available in the subsequent class. Please see the Transfers and Withdrawals page for more information.
What if I need to withdraw?
If you withdraw from the course at any time up until 5pm on the tenth day of the course, you are entitled to a full refund of the course fee, less an administration fee of 10% or $500, whichever is the smallest amount.
If you withdraw after 5pm on the tenth day of the course, the course fee is non-refundable, but may be transferred to another intake of your choice with the approval of the National Director. Please see the Fees section on the Course Options page.
Can I switch to a different course option after being confirmed on the course?
Sometimes trainees will find their circumstances change and their initial choice of course format may no longer suit them. Because IPLS offers the course in two formats, it may be possible to accommodate a switch from the 13-week course option to the 18-week course option or vice versa. If you have enrolled with IPLS and at any stage during your course you wish to switch to the other course format, you should contact IPLS to discuss your options.
How do I apply to transfer or withdraw?
IPLS recognises at times trainees need the ability to transfer between Intakes on the course, or to withdraw from the course completely. Please see the policies for transfers and withdrawals below.
International Trainees
I have an overseas law degree – can I do Profs with IPLS?
Yes you may, however Regulations state: A person with overseas qualifications will not be eligible to undertake the Course unless, before the commencement of the intake of the Course to which the person seeks entry, the person provides evidence to the Provider in the form of a letter from the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education confirming that the person has completed all other requirements (if any) which the New Zealand Council of Legal Education imposed upon that person. Please see nzcle.org.nz for more information.
Am I an international student?
Domestic students are:
New Zealand citizens, or hold a New Zealand residence class visa; or Australian citizens or permanent residents currently residing in New Zealand; or
New Zealand citizens from the Cook Islands, Tokelau or Niue. All others are international students.
How does IPLS cater for International Trainees?
IPLS has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Trainees published by the Ministry of Education. Copies of the Code are available from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website.
The IPLS liaison person for International Trainees can be contacted at info@ipls.org.nz
Code of practice for International Trainees
Code of Practice summary – English
Code of Practice summary – Chinese
Code of Practice summary – Hindi
Medical and Travel Insurance Policy for International Trainees
International Trainee Withdrawal and Refund Policy
International Trainee Assistance
International Trainee Grievance Procedure
Immigration: Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at immigration.govt.nz
Eligibility for health services: Most international trainees are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly-funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website at moh.govt.nz
Accident insurance: The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website at acc.co.nz
Medical and travel insurance: International trainees must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand.
Trainees with a disability/health condition
Does IPLS cater for trainees with health conditions?
IPLS aims to reasonably accommodate all trainees, employees, and visitors who have a health condition or disability. Any information provided by a trainee to IPLS concerning a health condition or disability is confidential and will not be shared with anyone who is not authorised by the trainee(in writing.
Trainee Health Policy and Procedures
Application for resources and assistance for trainees with a health condition
After graduation
What is the admission process to the High Court?
The process for admission as a barrister and solicitor to the High Court of New Zealand is in three parts. You will need:
A Certificate of Completion from the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (You can apply for this once you have completed Profs and received your Completion Letter from IPLS) A Certificate of Character from the New Zealand Law Society (You can apply for this on towards the end of your Profs course) To make an application to the High Court (Once you have received your Certificate of Completion and Certificate of Character).
Please refer to the New Zealand Law Society website for full information – lawsociety.org.nz
Can I work in Australia?
On the successful completion of your IPLS course, you may apply to the Registrar of the Supreme Court in the Australian State in which you wish to work, under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 2003. You will need to provide both your academic qualifications and IPLS completion letter along with other prescribed documentation. The Legal Practitioners Admissions Board considers whether you should be granted registration, with or without condition, or whether registration should be postponed or refused. For more information on working in: New South Wales – click here Queensland – click here Victoria – click here Western Australia – click here South Australia – click here