New Zealand Bar Course for Bangladeshi Students
Introduction
Most of those who want to build up their career in law profession dream to become Barrister. Lawyers of certain countries like United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia, who are qualified to present cases in court are called Barrister and Bangladesh Bar Council recognise those Barristers to practice and build law career in Bangladesh after completion of Bar Council Enrolment Exam. Though Bangladeshi law students traditionally start thinking with British Bar-at-Law courses, but law courses to become Barrister in New Zealand will facilitate you more and will bring you more opportunities to you to practice as Barrister and as Solicitor in both New Zealand and Bangladesh.
About New Zealand Bar
Defining and prescribing courses of study for the examination and practical legal training of persons wishing to be admitted as barristers and solicitors in New Zealand is govern by the New Council of Legal Education. The Council is an independent statutory body. The general activities of the Council concern public interest and regulatory matters and centre on the Council's responsibilities for the quality and provision of legal training that is required to be undertaken by any person either within New Zealand or from overseas wishing to be admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. This council provides the provision of those courses of the study, administer and conduct the required examination.
Procedure
People who have academic legal qualifications (LLB from Universities from United Kingdom, whether internal or external) from countries or jurisdictions other than New Zealand must apply to the Council of Legal Education for an assessment of their qualifications and experience before applying to be admitted in New Zealand.
All applicants must complete the application form and will have to submit a curriculum vitae summarizing educational background and qualifications, relevant work experience and in particular your legal experience. All application should be comprised of appropriate application fees, Tertiary Academic Records, Law School Handbook, Evidence of Professional Experience (Work Experience, Order of Admission to practice law overseas, Statement of Good Standing, Practising Certificate ).
An application will typically take twelve weeks to consider, and occasionally a longer time may be required depending on the nature of the application and the number of cases under consideration. Delays will be inevitable if poor quality or insufficient information has been provided by the applicant.
Applicants should note that each application is decided on its merits after a thorough examination of an applicant’s documents. The overseas qualifications provisions in the Professional Examinations in Law Regulations 2008 anticipate that there will be an adequate assessment of an applicant’s “academic†fitness to practise law in New Zealand.
The council of legal education might require to complete the certain stages to satisfy the academic and professional requirements for admission. New Zealand Degree Subjects (One year of full-time law study including Legal Ethics) New Zealand Law and Practice Examination* and Professional Legal Studies Course**. An applicant should have completed a course in Legal Ethics and professional responsibility undertaken at a New Zealand Law School University.
* Where an applicant receives a credit in one of the compulsory Council of Legal Education subjects, the applicant will normally be required to sit the corresponding Part of the New Zealand Law and Practice Examination (NZLP Examination) run by the Council. This Examination is a six Part self-taught course following a comprehensive prescription. It is generally held twice a year. It covers the areas of Legal System/Public Law (Part I), Contract Law (Part II), Criminal Law (Part III), Property Law (Part IV), Torts (Part V), and Equity and Succession (Part VI). Each Examination is of 90 minutes duration. The Examination is administered and conducted from the Council’s offices in Wellington. The Examination may be sat in New Zealand, or by advance arrangement with the Council, overseas. The purpose of the Examination is to test the applicant’s knowledge of the New Zealand law in the above areas and in particular the distinct features of New Zealand law.
** There are currently two providers of the Professional Legal Studies Course. The Institute of Professional Legal Studies provides a full-time, and a part face-to-face, part distance delivered course. The College of Law New Zealand provides a part face-to -face, part distance delivered course. You may choose which course you wish to undertake, and the provider with whom you wish to train.
An applicant will not be eligible to enroll in any of the Institute’s courses, or the College’s courses, until he or she has
_ completed the degree study requirements (if any) imposed by the Council
_ completed the Parts of the New Zealand Law and Practice Examination (if any) imposed by the Council.
Why New Zealand Bar?
The study and practice of law is exciting, challenging and extremely rewarding. Legal professional courses to become Barrister in New Zealand will always bring you more opportunities than to other countries like UK and Australia. Quality of education, time duration, costs, and options for practicing as Barrister both in New Zealand and Bangladesh and scope of getting permanent residency will make this course more favourable for law graduates. This course will open the door of accomplishments and will bring your dream to reality.
In New Zealand, Law courses are taught only at few Universities to maintain very much high standard of study. Those universities are committed to provide the highest quality and innovative student-focused legal education. They try to achieve this through their founding goals of professionalism, biculturalism and the study of law in context, linked with their practical skills program, focused on small-group teaching, excellent information technology (IT) resources and the integration of IT and topical issues into the law curriculum.
Currently in United Kingdom, IELTS requirement of 7.5 in all sections of the academic test is the main barrier to become Barrister even if you get higher second class or first class at LL.B.(Hons). Moreover no one can guarantee you offer to Bar Professional Training Course notwithstanding you have good academic results. In addition, Students without rights of employment and residency in the UK may not practice in the UK and it is not easy to get rights of employment and residence permit with contemporary foreign policy. Whereas in New Zealand you will not have to face such language barriers if you have completed your law graduation from United Kingdom. Law courses to become Barrister in New Zealand will facilitate you through allowing you to practice as Barrister in both New Zealand and Bangladesh.
In a similar way, IELTS requirement of 8 is the major barrier to become Barrister in Australia. In Australia, practicing certificates are issued by the relevant professional body in each Australian State or Territory, and this involve a period of restricted practice (involving up to 24 months of supervision under a senior legal practitioner) or further requirements, depending on the State or Territory. Continuing legal education to a specified level over a 12 month period is a requirement for renewal of practicing certificates in most jurisdictions in Australia. These reasons make students less interested to become Barrister in Australia. Whereas becoming Barrister in New Zealand is much more easier than Australia. Above all, New Zealand lawyers can be admitted to practice in all states and territories of Australia under the Trans-Tasman mutual recognition regime. That regime offers a fast-track process, just as it does for Australian practitioners seeking admission here.
For details and procedural advice:
For further details on New Zealand Bar courses and help on Application to the Council of Legal Education for an assessment of your qualifications and experience before applying to be admitted as Barrister in New Zealand, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Nazmul Hassan Rakib
Contact: (+64) 221884080
Email : hassan_moral@hotmail.com
Mamunur Rashid
Contact: (+64) 221884082
Email : m_rashid019@hotmail.com
Address:
10/3. Tralee Pl
Hamilton, New Zealand
