This subject introduces you to the practicalities of analysing and arguing a client’s case. To be an effective advocate in any forum you will need to be able to present the relevant facts persuasively to the decision-maker.

This subject will build your skills in: 

• Presenting oral submissions
• Identifying and using appropriate methods to introduce evidence
• Dealing correctly with exhibits
• Following procedures for making objections
• Examination-in-chief, cross-examination and re-examination

Civil Litigation is a process of resolving disputes between parties. To act competently for clients in this area, you need to have an understanding of the law, the rules, practice and procedures of the various courts, other methods of resolving disputes, and the ability to use those appropriately to achieve the best results for your clients. 

In this subject, you’ll build familiarity with drafting techniques, assessing the merits of a case, court processes and procedures. 

This workshop helps you to build skills in conducting effective client interviews, including how to:

• Establish a professional relationship and address any ethical issues
• Obtain relevant facts and information
• Identify legal and non-legal issues
• Advise clearly and contextually

The ability to negotiate and mediate are essential professional skills for lawyers. These skills are used frequently in practice in resolving issues in commercial contexts, and helping clients to resolve a dispute.  

In this subject, you will develop your skills in applying effective negotiation, mediation or other dispute resolution processes, to support the parties resolving their dispute without resorting to litigation. 

Transactional practice covers the largest areas of legal work undertaken in New Zealand – Property Law and Commercial Law. Whether or not you intended to practice in those areas, a working knowledge is required by lawyers in several other practice areas in order to best serve clients and understand their ancillary matters.

In the Transactional Practice subject, you’ll learn how to manage matters involving multiple entities, sale and purchase of land and a business, and be introduced to the key documents and processes governing sale and purchase of land or businesses in New Zealand.

The College of Law Profs course helps you to develop skills in the following valuable areas. These skills are recognised to be critically important as a practicing lawyer. In our course we introduce them through an engaging, interactive, online format before you apply them simultaneously in simulated real-life legal scenarios in the Portfolio subjects.

• Professional Conduct
• Fact Investigation and Problem Solving
• Practical Legal Research
• Writing and Drafting

Through the Office and Personal Management subject, you will learn key skills in managing as a professional in a professional workplace. This subject is taught through an engaging, interactive online format, and covers topics including:

• Law as a business
• Time recording and fees
• File management
• Professional relationships and communication
• Managing stress
• Managing your time
• Commonly used trust accounting rules
• Interpreting and reporting on clients’ trust ledger entries

Corporate practice typically involves matters relating to mergers and acquisitions (M&A), insolvency, banking and finance, corporate governance and management, and regulatory oversight. 

In this subject, you’ll build skills and understanding of: 

• Reviewing and advising on regulatory issues 
• Reviewing and advising on an insolvency matter 
• Advising on an acquisition 

Criminal law practice covers the law, rules, practices and procedures that apply in criminal matters. Criminal practice requires highly developed skills of analysis and judgement. Whether you are acting as the prosecuting or defending practitioner, an individual’s liberty may be at stake. 

In this subject, you’ll develop skills and understanding of: 

• Analysing a criminal charge and bail 
• Trial preparation 
• Sentencing and acting for a client on a plea in mitigation 

Family law practice involves advising clients about ways to resolve issues that arise from the breakdown of their relationship and about various dispute resolution processes and the courts. In this subject, you’ll develop skills and understanding of: 

• Taking instructions and advising in family law matters 
• Relationship property agreements 
• Parenting and guardianship 
• Advising on family violence matters 

Serving the interests of just one client brings both opportunities and tensions. In-house practitioners must be able to communicate effectively and deal with all organisational levels up to the board and the directors. The in-house role also requires a thorough understanding of the risks the client faces in its operations. 

In this subject, you’ll develop skills and understanding of: 

• The role of the in-house practitioner 
• Communicating effectively in an in-house environment 
• Understanding professional duties and balancing the role as facilitator against compliance obligations