Two top tier firms have confirmed their 2016 graduates will sit their Professional Legal Studies Course (Profs) full-time onsite.
The Institute of Professional Legal Studies last month
announced the new 13-week course, and
Chapman Tripp and
Bell Gully have since signed up.
“Chapman Tripp and Bell Gully are to be commended for their commitment to their graduates,” IPLS national director Bernadette Wilson said.
“The fact they are prepared to have employees away from the workplace for 13 weeks clearly demonstrates the importance they place on the high value skills training provided by IPLS.”
Wilson described the overall response to the new course as overwhelming.
“We have a number of law students completing their degrees at the end of the year who are very interested in studying full-time,” she said.
“It can be overwhelming for graduates trying to adjust to life outside university, settle into an unfamiliar workplace environment and give their best to their Profs course so it is particularly pleasing to see members of the profession recognising the value of allowing graduates to focus on Profs full-time.”
Chapman Tripp chief executive partner
Andrew Poole said the firm decided to enrol their 2016 graduates because they saw value in an onsite programme that “allows our graduates to focus exclusively on developing the skills required to be excellent lawyers”.
“It is also important to us that there is a good focus on corporate and commercial transactions in Profs.”
Bell Gully partner Simon Watt said the real value in the programme was that the firm’s law clerks will be fully trained and “work ready” when they start.
“This gives them the advantage of being able to make the most of the transactional work within their first year with the firm.”
As with all IPLS courses, the new course is open to holders of a New Zealand law degree. Anyone interested in enrolling in the new course should contact IPLS via the “Any Questions?” button on the IPLS Home Page at
www.ipls.nz . Enrolments will open on September 1.
