Qualifications and Registration

> Registered Conveyancer

> Educational Requirements

> Equivalency Assessment

> Practising Certificate

> Practice on Own Account

> Conveyancing Experience

The New Zealand Society of Conveyancers (NZSOC) offer the following conveyancer registration options:

Registered Conveyancer – is a person who has successfully completed the Diploma of Conveyancing or successfully applies through the NZ Society of Conveyancers under an Equivalency Assessment.  A Registered Conveyancer may only work under the supervision of another practitioner or firm, and may apply to be the Primary Contact with LandonLine.

Licensed Conveyancing Practitioner – a Registered Conveyancer who successfully applies through the NZ Society of Conveyancers to obtain a Practising Certificate. Practitioners can apply to be the Conveyancing Professional with LandonLine.

Licensed Conveyancing Practitioner who practices on their own account – a Licensed Conveyancing Practitioner who successfully applies through the NZ Society of Conveyancers to practice on their own account.

Please note: it is an offence for anyone other than a Registered Conveyancer approved by the NZ Society of Conveyancers to describe them self as a Conveyancing Practitioner or conveyancer.

EQUIVALENCY ASSESSMENT

 The NZ Society of Conveyancers requires candidates who seek to qualify as a Registered Conveyancer solely by their prior experience, qualifications and training to have in excess of 10 years relevant conveyancing experience. Candidates may apply to the NZ Society of Conveyancers for an equivalency assessment to determine the extent to which the person’s qualifications, training, or experience (or any combination of them) is the equivalent of the specifications for NZ Diploma of Conveyancing (see also our Diploma of Conveyancing webpage which fully outlines the prescriptions and learning outcomes for the 12 course diploma).

The Equivalency Assessment application must be accompanied by a full CV, a detailed written statement along with documentary evidence of the applicant’s qualifications, training, or experience (as further outlined in our Prior Experience Guideline Form; references; police check, a statutory declaration that the applicant is the person named in the documents submitted and that the documents are true, complete and correct; along with payment of the applicable fee.

The equivalency assessment completed by NZSOC may include an examination on conveyancing knowledge and capabilities, and referees that are provided to verify the applicants past experience will be contacted.

The NZ Society of Conveyancers or an approved provider will notify the applicant of any additional training or study required in order to obtain full equivalency, and the candidate will have 3 years to complete any further training or study required by that assessment.

The Society may impose any conditions on a grant of registration that it considers appropriate in the circumstances.

[go to Equivalency Assessment application forms]

REGISTERED CONVEYANCER

• A registered Conveyancer is a candidate who qualifies as a Registered Conveyancer by successfully completing the Diploma of Conveyancing; or
• A candidate who has attained the appropriate Equivalency Assessment Certificate from the NZ Society of Conveyancers (see above) confirming that their prior conveyancing experience and training meets the specifications of the Diploma of Conveyancing.

A Registered Conveyancer is required to work under the supervision of another Practitioner or firm. Before they can apply to NZ Society of Conveyancers for their Practising Certificate and to practice on their own account, they need to provide evidence of the required 2 years practical conveyancing experience to NZSOC.

Criteria for registration as a Registered Conveyancer

The candidate must -
1. Meet the educational requirements set by the NZ Society of Conveyancers (as below)
2. Be a fit and proper person to be registered as a registered conveyancer
    (as defined by s83 Lawyers and Conveyancers Act)
3. Payment of the applicable fee

Educational Requirements
· Hold a NZ Diploma of Conveyancing or
· Hold a certificate Equivalency Assessment (as below), issued by the NZSOC whereby qualifications, training or experience is the equivalent of the requirements 
  of the Diploma of Conveyancing.

PRACTISING CERTIFICATE

A Registered Conveyancer with at least two years relevant conveyancing experience can make application to the NZ Society of Conveyancers to become a Licensed Conveyancing Practitioner where if successful, they will be issued with a Practising Certificate. Conveyancing Practitioners may work for another practitioner or firm or can apply to the NZSOC to operate on their own account (see below).

Criteria for Eligibility for a Practising Certificate
1. The applicant must be a Registered Conveyancer through NZ Society of Conveyancers with at least 2 years relevant conveyancing experience. Such conveyancing
    experience must be obtained during the 8 years immediately before the proposed date, and the Conveyancer has had not less than 2 years conveyancing
    experience in NZ or Australia
2. Be a fit and proper person (as defined by s83 Lawyers and Conveyancers Act)
3. Payment of the applicable fee
4. The applicant does not hold and has not applied to hold a practising certificate as a lawyer
5. The applicant has completed the required undertakings in accordance with section 5 of the Act
6. The applicant has completed any ongoing educational requirements as outlined by the Society, which may include;
      a. A Trust Accounting Course;
      b. A Business Management Course.
7. The practice (if any) to which the person is a member or employee must hold professional indemnity insurance
8. If the Conveyancing Practitioner is an employee of a law firm or law practitioner, then an indemnity declaration by the employer is to be provided to the NZSOC

In accordance with s9 Lawyers and Conveyancers Act, a practitioner is guilty of misconduct, who, being an employee, provides conveyancing services to the public other than in the course of his or her employment –

o by a lawyer; or
o by a partnership comprised entirely of lawyers; or
o by an incorporated law firm; or
o by a community law centre; or
o by the Legal Services Agency; or
o by Public Trust; or
o by the Maori Trustee; or
o by a trustee company; or
o by an employer organisation; or
o by a union.

The Society’s power to refuse to issue a Practising Certificate

LICENSED CONVEYANCING PRACTITIONER TO PRACTISE ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT

A Licensed Conveyancing Practitioner with authority to practise on their own account may operate as a sole practice, partnership or incorporated conveyancing firm.

Criteria to Practise on own account
1. Applicant must have at least two years of conveyancing experience gained within NZ or Australia and the NZ Society of Conveyancers is satisfied with regard to the
    level of conveyancing experience demonstrated
2. The applicant has successfully completed a Trust Account course as approved by the NZSOC (during the 3 years immediately before the proposed commencement date)
3. The applicant has successfully completed a Business Management course (as below) or can provide evidence to the Society that they have sufficient business
    management experience to be exempt from this requirement.
            The Business Management qualification needs to be at or above Level 4 with a minimum of 60 credits that is quality assured by NZQA.  You can find a list
            of courses available by;
            a. going to the NZ Qualifications Authority www.nzqa.govt.nz
            b. in the Search Bar near the top of the home page, key in search criteria  “small business”
            c. click the “qualifications” button
            d. click “GO”
            Look for courses which meet the minimum of Level 4 with minimum of 60 credits.
4. The applicant has satisfied the NZSOC that they are a suitable person to practice on their own account
5. The practitioner provides Power of Attorney to another Conveyancing Practitioner entitled to practise on his or her own account
6. The practitioner contributes towards the Conveyancers Fidelity Fund and other applicable fees and levies
7. Any other matters the Society considers relevant.

Conveyancing Experience

Conveyancing experience means any 1 or more of the following:
(a) conveyancing work in the office of a conveyancing practitioner in sole practice, a partnership of conveyancing practitioners, or an incorporated conveyancing firm:
(b) conveyancing work in the office of a lawyer in sole practice, a partnership of lawyers, or an incorporated law firm:
(c) conveyancing work in any State service (as defined in section 2 of the State Sector Act 1988):
(d) conveyancing work in the office of a local authority:
(e) conveyancing work as an employee of a company or other body (whether incorporated or unincorporated)

In accordance with s22 Lawyer and Conveyancers Act (Conveyancers: Registration and Practice) Regulations, such conveyancing experience must be obtained during the 8 years immediately before the proposed date, and the conveyancer has had not less than 2 years conveyancing experience in NZ or Australia.

For further information please contact info@nzsconveyancing.co.nz