The Professional Legal Studies Course aims to:
- bridge the gap between your academic study of law and its practice
- prepare you for supervised practice, or for practice as a barrister sole
- provide you with skills which, when developed through practice, will equip you to reach the level of professional competence required to represent a client without supervision
- develop for you a sense of the professional role and responsibilities required of a practitioner and an officer of the court
- prepare you for legal practice in a culturally diverse society and the need to be sensitive to cultural and gender issues
- provide you with a foundation for your lifelong learning of the practice of law
- encourage you to take responsibility for your ongoing professional development
Course Structure and Duration
The Professional Legal Studies Course offers the following flexible course structures:
- Standard course
- Standard course (segmented onsites)
(evening onsite and weekend onsite options also available in Auckland and Wellington)
- Individual course
- New London onsite option
Standard Course
The standard Professional Legal Studies Course is:
- 18 weeks long
- taught in two 9-week modules that are interchangeable between courses:
Module A:
- Online phase (7 weeks)
- Onsite phase (9 days)
Module B:
- Online phase (7 weeks)
- Onsite phase (7 days)
- part-time during most of its online phases
- full-time during most of its onsite phases
Each PLSC course module begins with an orientation held on the first day of the course. Module A has an onsite orientation (and social function) and Module B has an online orientation.
The two modules are of equal duration, with each having a combination of online distance learning and face-to-face onsite teaching. Each 9-week module begins with a 7-week online phase and concludes with an onsite held during the final two weeks.
| Module A |
Module B |
| Weeks 1 - 7 >>>>>> Weeks 8-9 |
Weeks 1 - 7 >>>>>> Weeks 8-9 |
| Online Onsite |
Online Onsite |
Suitable for law graduates in full time or part time employment.
Standard course (segmented onsites)
The segmented onsite option splits the onsite into smaller segments and spreads them through the course, in contrast to the standard course which concentrates the onsites in the final two weeks of each module.
| Module A |
Module B |
| Weeks 1-9 |
Weeks 1-9 |
| Week 1: 3-day onsite |
Week 3: 1-day onsite |
| Week 4: 1-day onsite |
Week 9: 5-day onsite |
| Week 5: 3-day onsite |
|
| Week 9: 2-day onsite |
|
The segmented onsite option is ideal for graduates whose work or other commitments make it difficult for them to take two weeks off at a time.
Evening (segmented onsite)
Evening courses are also available in Auckland and Wellington. The onsite component for both Modules is spread across Wednesday evenings throuhgout the course. Click here for evening onsite course dates.
Weekend course (segmented)
The segmented onsite option spreads the onsite component for both Modules across Saturdays throughout the course. This option would ideally suit graduates who are unable to attend their onsite component during the working week. Click here for weekend course dates.
Individual course
You can combine any course Module A with any course Module B to create an individual course structure and timetable to suit your needs.
Further information regarding the course modules and onsite programmes is available here.
London onsite course option
The College of Law, in conjunction with College of Law NSW, now offers students the opportunity to undertake their onsite components in London.
To undertake your onsite(s) in London, you must have completed all of your coursework online before starting your onsite for the relevant Module.
Click here for London course dates.
Please note: In addition to your PLSC tuition fee, these courses will incur additional London onsite and assessment charges (AUD$2,700.00). These courses are also offered subject to minimum enrolment numbers.
Methods of Instruction
The Professional Legal Studies Course is a blended learning course, which combines a mixture of part-time supervised online distance learning and full-time face-to-face skills development sessions.
Admission as a Solicitor and Barrister
Successfully completing your Professional Legal Studies Course will provide you with the practical legal skills and qualifications needed to gain direct admission as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
For further information on how to be admitted to practice law in New Zealand, see: Admission as a Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand
Course Admission Requirements
In order to gain admission to the PLSC, you are required to:
- have completed all requirements entitling you to graduate in law from a New Zealand university, and
- provide to the College of Law New Zealand a certified copy of your LLB academic transcript
Course Fees
The Professional Legal Studies Course fee is $4,762 (GST incl), payable in full 4 weeks before the commencement date of the course. The PLSC is also approved for student loans and allowances, which you can learn more about by visiting www.studylink.govt.nz
For further information on course fees, as well as incidental fees, please see: Programme Fees
Course Completion
After successfully completing the PLSC, the College will provide you with a Certificate in Professional Legal Studies. This is the document you will need to prove to the NZCLE that you have completed the course when you apply to the NZCLE for its certificate of completion.
Course Admissions, Enrolments and General Enquiries
For further information about the PLSC, please use the following channels to contact us:
New Zealand Enquiries
Ph: 0800 894 172 or +64 9 300 3151
Fax: +64 9 300 3153
Email: enquiries@collaw.ac.nz