When should I apply?

The answer is now! You can apply for a course at any time but they do fill up very quickly, so don’t delay. There is a particularly heavy demand for summer school. You should apply for your preferred course before you finish your law papers – six months before your preferred start date is not too soon! You can apply for a place on the course before you have completed your LLB degree. You must choose a course that starts after the date of your final LLB exam, or if you have a law degree from a country other than New Zealand, the expected completion date of any requirements of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education.

How are places allocated?

First come, first served. If the course you have requested has available spaces we will send you an offer of a place. This offer is conditional upon:

• Receipt of a certified copy of your transcript, or by sharing your digital official transcript from “My eQuals”, or other document showing you are eligible to graduate with a New Zealand law degree (LLB).
• Receipt of a certified copy of your birth certificate or passport to prove your New Zealand citizenship or residency. (Students from outside New Zealand should read the Eligibility criteria listed on the Enrolment Form).

How do I apply?

Use the online enrolment form by clicking on ENROL NOW.

Can I start Profs while finishing my final paper?

Sorry, but no. The Regulations state: No person is eligible to undertake the Course unless, before the commencement of the intake of the Course to which the person seeks entry, the person has furnished the Provider with a transcript or other document from the university which that person is attending or has attended, confirming that the person has completed (or will by the commencement date have completed) all the requirements of the university so that the person is or will be (as the case may be) eligible for an LLB by the commencement date.

What fees are involved?

The New Zealand Council of Legal Education sets the IPLS course fee which is due, without exception, prior to the first day of the course. The IPLS receives government funding and as such is subject to regulated fees which are reviewed annually. The current fees are detailed here.

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 allowances?

The IPLS course qualifies 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?

Within 10 days of receipt of your Enrolment Application Form, you will be emailed confirmation of your enrolment. You then need to provide proof of your New Zealand citizenship or residency status and that you are eligible to graduate with a New Zealand law degree (LLB), start your student loan application (if paying by student loan) and also sign the ‘Fee Protect Student Acknowledgement’ form which will be emailed to you. You will be contacted by email one week before the commencement date of your course giving you more detailed information pertinent to the start of your course.

What prerequisites exist for doing the course?

It is a prerequisite for enrolment on the Professional Legal Studies Course (PLSC) you are eligible for the award of an LLB degree. The relevant university can advise IPLS on your eligibility. If you are completing an LLB (Honours) degree, a conjoint LLB or a combined LLB and wish to enrol for the PLSC, you must have completed law credits equivalent to an LLB (so if you withdrew from your current course of study you would be eligible for the award of an LLB degree). If you have overseas qualifications, 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.

Recognition of Prior Learning?

In certain circumstances, it is appropriate for the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) to recognise and subsequently exempt a trainee from enrolment in a particular part of the course as a result of previously successfully completing certain seminars at an earlier date.

This is an IPLS-wide policy. It covers requests for RPL from trainees who failed to complete the course for one or more of the following reasons:

• Ill-health
• Abandonment of course due to personal reasons.

Subject to the NZCLE Regulations, there can be no RPL for trainees who failed to complete the course for the following reasons:

• Three Not Yet Competent (NYC) grades due to:
  • Competency level not achieved
  • Non-participation – NZCLE Regulation 4 breached
• Misconduct (copying work) – NZCLE Regulation 5 breached
• Divulged or received assessment information – NZCLE Regulation 6 breached

Click Here to complete the RPL Application form.

Course

Can I start Profs while finishing my final paper?

Sorry, but no. The Regulations state: No person is eligible to undertake the Course unless, before the commencement of the intake of the Course to which the person seeks entry, the person has furnished the Provider with a transcript or other document from the university which that person is attending or has attended, confirming that the person has completed (or will by the commencement date have completed) all the requirements of the university so that the person is or will be (as the case may be) eligible for an LLB by the commencement date.

Can I transfer between courses?

You may transfer from one intake to another up until and including the day before the commencement date of the course you are enrolled in. You will not be charged a transfer fee. If you request a transfer to a later intake, before 5pm on the tenth course day, 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 course day, you may only do so if the National Director consents to such a transfer. Where consent is granted a transfer fee is payable. Transfers are subject to spaces being available in the subsequent course. 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 course day, 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 course day, 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 Our Programmes page.

If I am accepted on one form of the course and my circumstances change, can I switch to the other?

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 and what are the policies on this?

IPLS recognises at times trainees need the ability to transfer between Intakes on the course, or to withdraw from the course completely, for personal reasons. These policy and procedures apply to transfers and withdrawals and any refund a trainee may be entitled to as a result.

Trainee Transfer Policy

Trainee Withdrawal and Refund Policy

Trainee Universal Application Form (Application to Transfer or Withdraw)

Will I need to work weekends?

The face to face modules in the 13 week pace and the 18 week pace IPLS courses run from Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5.00pm. There may be the occasional online assessment required to be completed over a weekend.

Do I need my own computer?

Yes – View the requirements on the Online Learning page.

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.

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.

After graduation

How long does my Certificate of Completion last?

During 2008 the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE) moved to a system where a global certificate (ie showing successful completion of the LLB and the Legal Ethics course (if applicable) and the Professional Legal Studies Course) is issued by the Chief Executive. The global completion certificate is the document which is required for admission evidencing completion of all educational requirements. This global completion certificate remains valid for three years from the date of issue. Thereafter, the certificate will have to be renewed. The NZCLE has a discretion to assess the candidate’s qualification for admission and may impose further study requirements as in cases of staleness. Therefore candidates for admission should ensure that once they have obtained the completion certificate, they proceed to apply to the High Court for admission within the three-year period.

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 (apply on completion of profs)
• A Certificate of Character from the New Zealand Law Society (apply on completion or very near to completion of profs)
• To make an application to the High Court (once you have received your Certificate of Completion and Certificate of Character).

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