Stepping Up - foundation for practising on own account 2025

All lawyers wishing to practise on their own account, whether alone or in partnership or incorporated practice, and some in-house counsel, are required to complete this course. To complete Stepping Up you must do approximately 50 hours of self-directed distance learning and preparation and then attend all sessions of a two-and-a-half-day workshop. You must sign an undertaking that you have completed all the preparatory work.

There are five courses offered in 2025. However, there is no guarantee of acceptance to any particular course as maximum numbers apply to each session.

Stepping Up – due diligence

Stepping Up is the first step in qualifying to practise on your own account. After the course, you will need to apply to the New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa (Law Society) for approval and meet the application criteria. The Law Society website explains the application process and criteria, see Practising on own account as a barrister and solicitor and Starting practice as a barrister.

Many graduates of Stepping Up wish they had considered the implications of practising on own account before they did Stepping Up. We’ve got something to help you with that – our own series of videos called So you are thinking of practising on own account? There is also a free recording and book about Practising on own account.

Topping Up Stepping Up

Topping Up Stepping Up is a revision course for practitioners who have previously completed Stepping Up but who have not commenced practice on their own account within the required two years of the expiry date. More information

Completing the course

The course includes:

• Modular, self-directed, distance-learning tasks
• Preparatory work (50 hours approx)
• An undertaking
• Attendance at all sessions of the two-and-a-half day workshop
• Some assessment.

There will be concurrent workshop sessions for the different intended career paths:

• Barrister sole
• Sole practitioner or partner/director in a two-partner firm
• Partner/director in a firm of three or more partners.

Learning objectives

Stepping Up is a major building block in the Law Society’s competence and professional development programme.

You will:

• Be better able to run the business of a law practice.
• Be qualified to assume responsibility for the obligations of the practice.
• Understand and confidently apply the relevant Rules of Conduct and Client Care.
• Understand the principles and rules of trust accounting.

Those lawyers who wish to practise on their own and run a trust account will also have to complete the CLE New Zealand Law Society Trust Account Supervisor Training Programme.

Materials

Materials comprise a book and a folder. Registrants can opt to receive the book in Hard Copy and/or PDF; the folder is available in Hard Copy only. There is an additional $30 charge for selecting the book in both Hard Copy and PDF. Materials will be couriered approximately three months before each workshop.

Pre course work

The learning modules include background information, examples, practice exercises and questions, and preparatory work for the workshop. As a guide, we estimate that all pre-course work will take about 50 hours.

All your written work for each module, including the Trust Account Observation report, must be submitted to the course manager before the course begins.

Download the electronic version of all answer sections, either as a PDF or a Word document

Observation report

Download the Observation Report Template

Undertaking

Before the workshop, you must submit a declaration that you have completed all background reading and pre-course work.

Download the undertaking with the corresponding checklist

Disclosure of information

Stepping Up candidates for practice on own account are required to give CLE New Zealand Law Society and the Course Director written authority to disclose to the Law Society and CLE New Zealand Law Society anything they consider relevant to the candidate’s application to practise on own account.

Assessment

Assessment is based on:

•  All prescribed work being completed, including a written report of a trust account (observation report)
• Active participation in all workshop sessions.

In the event of failure of any assessed part of the course, there is a process for reassessment.

Applying to practice on your own account

Stepping Up is a compulsory prerequisite for lawyers applying to be barrister sole. Stepping Up is the first step in the process towards qualifying to practise on own account. If you do not commence practice on own account within two years from the date you completed Stepping Up, the qualification lapses. When you intend to practise on your own account you should make a formal application to your local Law Society branch. Information is available on the Law Society website.

The process of application to practise on own account takes six to eight weeks. This allows time for your name to be advertised to the profession, for you to attend an interview (if required) and for reference checks to be made.

Presenters

View all presenters

Course Director: Niamh McMahon, McMahon Butterworth Thompson, Auckland

Timing

• Day 1: 8.45am – 6.00pm
• Day 2: 8.30am – 6.00pm
• Day 3: 8.30am – 12.00pm
• Registrations close four weeks prior to each session. Candidates must have time to receive materials and complete the pre-course work (approx 50 hours) in order to submit their undertaking before the workshop commences. Late registrations will be considered on an individual basis. Numbers are limited for each session, please register early.

Fee (incl GST)

Fee includes materials and all catering. Accommodation is not included.

Workshop:

• Course Fee: $1,820
• Reassessment of any part: $140
• Reconsideration of any part: $95

Do you want to register more than one person for this course? Use Multiple Registration button below or contact us

Download PDF registration form

Auckland 1	6 - 8 March 2025
Christchurch	15 - 17 May 2025
Live Online	24 - 26 July 2025
Wellington	18 - 20 September 2025
Auckland 2	20 - 22 November 2025

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Cancellation and refund policy

This workshop has a “No transfer” policy. Therefore, if you are unable to attend the workshop you must cancel your registration. If you cancel your registration more than 15 working days before the workshop begins, you will receive a refund of $1,160. No refunds will be given for any cancellations made less than 15 working days before the course.