The New Zealand Law Society currently exempts students with a recent pass in the trimesterised course 510 Introduction to Commercial Law from the requirement to pass Introduction to the Legal System. Commercial Law is a course in the New Zealand Diploma in Business Programme. *

Commercial Law is usually available for study in all three trimesters starting in February, July, and October, these trimesters having their final exams in June, November, and February, respectively.

Choosing to study Commercial law as an alternative to Legal System may:

• provide added flexibility for some students to fit in their study with other commitments.

• Provide an exam date at a different time of the year allowing more time for a student to spend studying another course for a Legal Executive October exam.

• In some circumstances allow the legal executive qualification to be completed in less time.

• Be an attractive option for those students preferring a level of in-course assessment, as 50% of the final mark is assessed on two pieces of course work submitted during the trimester.

Further differences between the courses include:

• Topics taught are similar but not identical.

• Fee levels between the two courses differ.

• The 510 Introduction to Commercial Law enrolment fee includes the exam entry fee but the Introduction to the Legal System enrolment fee does not include the exam fee, which is payable separately in May or June.

• Students with a pass in 510 Introduction to Commercial Law must apply to the New Zealand Law Society with acceptable evidence of their pass and pay a fee to be granted their exemption from Introduction to the Legal System.

*Note: Passes in other courses such as 71 110 Introduction to Law, are currently accepted by the New Zealand Law Society for exemption purposes. Contact the Legal Executive Course Administrator at the New Zealand Law Society Elizabeth Berry if you wish to check if a law subject you have passed may qualify you for an exemption from passing Introduction to the Legal System.

For other possible study options see Law Study Pathways.