Introduction to Criminal Law Practice 2025

This practical two-day workshop will cover the fundamentals of being an effective criminal lawyer. The course addresses the steps that lawyers new to criminal practice need to know about, to prepare for and run a Judge-alone trial in the District Court.

Session outline:

• The fundamentals of being a good criminal lawyer
• Putting it into practice
• Case review hearings
• Working with people
• Judge-alone trials
• Sentencing submissions
• Sentencing
• Evidence-in-chief
• Cross-examination
• Producing an exhibit
• Making an objection
• Bail
• Disclosure
• Name suppression
• Legal aid
• Ethics and etiquette.

Learning objectives

By attending this workshop you will:

• Gain essential skills to enable you to advise your clients about the range of available law-based resolutions which may apply to them.
• Learn how to put those skills into practice both in preparing for and appearing at a criminal trial.

Format

A range of teaching and learning techniques will be used including:

• Group discussions on topics including preparing and delivering a plea in mitigation
• Planning evidence-in-chief and cross-examination
• Practising a series of drills (with feedback from experienced counsel)
• Mini-lectures.

Who should attend

This workshop is for all practitioners wanting to be appointed to level one of the criminal legal aid list, and those recently appointed to this level. Note: Limited to 40 participants at each centre.

Materials

You will be sent materials in advance.

Pre Course Work

You are expected to make yourself familiar with the contents of the course folder before you arrive. As well, there is required pre-course reading of about 1-2 hours.

Timing

• Day 1: 9.00am – 5.00pm
• Day 2: 9.00am – 5.00pm

Fee (incl GST)

Law Society Members benefit from up to 30% off 

Entry Level Workshop

• $875 - Law Society members & associate members
• $1,280 - Non-members

Do you want to register more than one person for this course? Use the 'register others' button below or Click here 

Financial assistance

Financial assistance may be available through the Douglas Wilson Advocacy Scholarship Trust for New Zealand based lawyers. 

Applications for assistance must be received by: 5pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025.

Late applications cannot be considered.

Please note: You must still register to attend this course, either online or by completing a registration form.

Download a Douglas Wilson Advocacy Scholarship Trust application form

Download PDF registration form

Wellington	26 - 27 May
Auckland	29 - 30 May

Presenters

Janine Bonifant Aurora Chambers, Wellington Janine has had over 30 years’ experience as a litigator with a focus on criminal law. She has prosecuted and defended many trials in the District and High Courts. Janine has been a faculty member on the CLE New Zealand Law Society Litigation Skills Programme since 2006 and was Director in 2013 and 2017. She is currently an instructor for the Institute of Professional Legal Studies and practises as a barrister in Wellington.

David Dickinson Federal Chambers, Auckland Admitted to the bar in 2007, David appears regularly as a jury trial lawyer in the District Court and High Court defending charges of violence, sex crimes, drugs and fraud. He has extensive experience in bail applications, discharges without conviction, appeals against sentence or conviction and traffic law.

Comments from past attendees

• “Lots of real-life examples which helped me understand the content in the context that we might apply it.”
• “A great opportunity to plug gaps and learn from an experienced lawyer.”

Developed with the support of:

Cancellation and refund policy

You may cancel your registration eight working days in advance of an event, and you will receive a refund less a 25% administration fee. If you cancel less than eight working days in advance of the event, no refund is payable. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another person. If you wish to do so you must advise CLE New Zealand Law Society in writing of the change. CLE reserves the right to close registrations, and cancel or reschedule an event as necessary. Where an event is cancelled by CLE, a full refund is payable.