TTMRA - mutual recognition

If you have been admitted and/or hold a current practising certificate in New Zealand, you may apply for admission pursuant to the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (WA) Act 2007 (TTMRA).

Your application must be made directly to the Supreme Court. Refer to the Mutual Recognition information section of the Supreme Court website (Court Procedure/Admissions) or refer to 10.1.3 of the Consolidated Practice Directions of the Supreme Court. A certificate of good standing from the New Zealand Law Society (no more than one calendar month old) must be attached to your application.

A copy of your complete application must be provided to the Legal Practice Board.

You have no entitlement to practise in Western Australia (unless you are employed by State Government) until your Western Australian practising certificate is issued. You can lodge your application for a practising certificate when you lodge the copy of your notice of application for admission with the Legal Practice Board.

You are required to lodge a fresh certificate of good standing from the New Zealand Law Society with your application for a practising certificate unless:

  1. you lodge your application for a practising certificate within one month from the date of issue of the certificate of good standing attached to the application for admission lodged at the Court
  2. you lodge your application for a practising certificate within three months of the date of issue of the certificate of good standing attached to your application for admission and you lodge a statutory declaration stating you have not practised in New Zealand since the date that certificate of good standing was issued.

If you hold a current NZ practising certificate, your WA practising certificate will be issued effective the date you lodge your completed application for a practising certificate, provided you have lodged your application for admission with the Court and provided a copy of that notice to the Board. Any conditions that apply to your NZ practising certificate will equally apply to your WA practising certificate.

If you do not hold a current NZ practising certificate, your WA practising certificate will be issued effective the date you are formally admitted (i.e. the date you sign the roll), or the date your completed application for a practising certificate is received, whichever is the latest. There may be a delay in issuing your practising certificate if the Board is required to consider whether any special conditions should be imposed.

All practising certificates are issued subject to the restricted practice requirements of section 49 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA) unless your certificate of good standing states you are entitled to an unrestricted practising certificate in NZ or you provide the Board with a statutory declaration seeking exemption under section 49(4) of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA).

If you have further queries about your application for a practising certificate please email your enquiry to enquiries@lpbwa.com for the attention of the Assessment and Enquiries team on (08) 6211 3600.