New Zealand Law Society - Making changes

Making changes

Lawyers have an obligation under r11 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Practice Rules) Regulations 2008 to notify the Law Society as soon as possible if any of the information held about them on the public register changes.

Changing employers

Use this form to notify the Law Society of a change of employer. You cannot make this change yourself in the Registry database.

You are responsible for ensuring you hold a current practising certificate and any arrangements for the payment or the reimbursement of fees when you transfer from one employer to another is between you and your employer. 

Changing contact details

You can log into the Registry database and go to the ‘Personal Details’ screen to update your:

  • email address
  • phone number
  • address

Changing practice areas and languages

Log into the Registry database and go to the Statistics’ screen to update your practising areas and languages.

Make sure you tick the box at the top of this page if you want your practising areas and languages to show on your record on the public register (Registry Lookup) and if you want your name to be included in the results when people search for a lawyer using these criteria (Find a Lawyer).

No longer require a practising certificate

To notify the Law Society that you wish to cancel your practising certificate please complete the Practising fee refund application form and send this to registry@lawsociety.org.nz.

This form must be completed as soon as possible by the person whose name is on the practising certificate.

Fee refunds will only be calculated from the date the application is received by the Registry Team or from the date that the lawyer’s employment ceases – whichever is later.

Practise on own account as a barrister and solicitor

If you want to practise on own account, as a barrister and solicitor, with or without a trust account, please refer to the information on practice on own account as a barrister and solicitor.

Practise on own account as a barrister

If you want to practise on your own account as a barrister, please refer to the information on starting practice as a barrister.

Other changes

Complete the following forms if you need to:

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