Legal Officer

NZDF

Waiouru Military Camp, Manawatu-Wanganui
Permanent
Full-time

2 months ago

About the role Career progression and training Salary and benefits Entry requirementsNot many legal specialists get trained to lead teams of people in all kinds of situations, handle weapons and develop problem-solving, adventure and outdoor skills. As a Legal Officer, your career can vary greatly depending on what appointment you hold, but you could find yourself working in areas such as Military law, military and civilian employment law or human rights and privacy law.ServiceArmySpecialisationSpecialistLocationVariedStarting Trade Training$86,092About the roleLegal Advisors (LEGADs) in the New Zealand Defence Force work in what could be best described as a 'Specialised General Practice. As a Military Legal Advisor, your career can vary greatly depending on what appointment you hold, but the principal areas in which you may practice are:

Military law
Administrative law
Military and civilian employment law
The law of armed conflict and other international and domestic law applicable to the operations of the Armed Forces
Human rights and privacy law
Contract law
Resource management law

From time to time you will be required to appear for the Crown in the Court Martial of New Zealand or other courts and tribunals, such as the Summary Appeal Court of New Zealand or a coroner's inquest. There are periodic opportunities for exchanges with military lawyers in Australia, Canada and the UK, as well as occasional overseas training opportunities in areas such as the law of armed conflict.The majority of your career as a Legal Advisor will be spent in a tri-service environment. This means that Legal Officers often spend their careers at various defence establishments and your work colleagues can be Army, Navy, Air Force and Civilian.Career progression and trainingCareer ProgressionBasic TrainingJob TrainingOngoing TrainingFollowing successful completion of the Specialist Officer Induction Course (SOIC), you will typically be promoted to Lieutenant and posted to one of the Defence Force's legal offices for on the job training as a military lawyer. These offices are currently located in Auckland, Waiouru, Palmerston North, Wellington and Burnham. You can expect to be posted to other junior appointments in other Defence Force establishments in the early stages of your career. You will be promoted to Captain upon completion of all relevant courses and necessary time in rank. There may be opportunities for operational deployments around the world, and exchanges with other Military Forces including in the UK, Canada and Australia.Officer Cadet School (OCS)(12 weeks) Location: Waiouru Military CampInitial training begins in early January. Attendees at this training will be a mixture of Regular Force General List Officer Cadets, Regular Force Special List Officer Cadets, and Reserve Force Special List Officer Cadets.The training will be split into three modules and attendance at Modules One, Two and Three is required for all Regular Force Officer Cadets. Reserve Force Special List Officer Cadets must attend Modules One and Three; this can be in the same year or in consecutive years.Training covers:

NZ Army Ethos and Values
Self-leadership
Physical Training
Basic field-craft
Military Unarmed Combat
Weapon handling
Navigation
Battle-craft
Radio telephone procedure
Weapon handling
Drill
NZ Army tactics
Leadership

As a junior LEGAD specialist training is provided as appropriate on an ongoing basis, most of which is conducted in-house. Throughout your career you will have the opportunity to attend specific military law courses and exercises within New Zealand and overseas. You will be encouraged to pursue relevant postgraduate study opportunities.You can be given the opportunity to develop your advocacy skills by appearing as junior counsel in the Court Martial and the Summary Appeal Court, and may have the opportunity to participate in specialist litigation training.All LEGAD's are encouraged to undertake additional NZDF courses to enhance their general Service and military skills and therefore their deployability.Salary and benefitsSpecific remuneration arrangements can, in certain cases, be tailored in respect of practitioners with experience in relevant legal specialties. As you become more experienced in the military and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, your salary will rise accordingly.$86,092Starting Trade Training$169,941Future Potential EarningsFigures updated on July 1st 2023Military FactorEarn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:Free and subsidised medical and dental careAccess to subsidised equipment on camp and basesSubsidised food on camps and basesSponsored tertiary study programmes at all levelsFree access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and basesSubsidised accomodation on camps and basesFree and subsidised insurance coverHelp to buy a home and save for retirementOpportunities to travelCompetitive superannuationEntry requirementsBasicsEducationFitness and MedicalCitizenshipPeriod of Service

Must have completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). See education tab for further details;
Meet the citizenship and security requirements to gain SV security clearance for the trade;
Be free of any criminal convictions for the previous two years or any that preclude you from holding a legal practising certificate;
Be of good character - assessed by a study of testimonials and a police record check;
Pass an Officer Selection Board.

Minimum: You must have completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). Applicants in their final year of study are encouraged to apply.Desirable: Completion of Professional Legal Studies and having been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, as well as some form of post-admission experience, will make you a competitive applicant.

You must be medically fit for service.
Colour perception restrictions may apply.

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required SV security clearance for this trade.There may be a return of service period for this trade.Please contact our 0800 number or talk to your Candidate Experience Facilitator for more information.

NZDF

Apply Now