Career Progression and Training Entry Requirements
Not many legal specialists get trained to lead teams of people in all kinds of situations, handle weapons, and develop problem-solving skills.
As a Reserve Legal Officer, you could find yourself working in areas such as military law, military and civilian employment law, or human rights and privacy law.
Service Navy
Specialisation Naval Reserve
Location Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin
Initial daily rate $231
About the Role
Legal Advisors (LEGADs) in the New Zealand Defence Force work in what could be best described as a Specialised General Practice.
As a LEGAD, your career can vary greatly depending on your tasking, but the principal areas in which you may practise 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
As a Reserve Legal Officer, you may provide legal advice to all levels of command. That advice may encompass a range of topics, including disciplinary matters, military justice procedure, Service Police investigations, Courts of Inquiry, command investigations, the law of armed conflict and rules of engagement, compliance with applicable civil law, civilian employment disputes, complaints, and contracts.
Reserve Legal Officers may also advise on, and assist with, the formulation of policy, and provide legal training and education.
From time to time, and depending upon your experience, you may 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.
The majority of your career as a LEGAD will be spent in a tri-service environment. This means that Reserve Legal Officers may serve at various defence establishments, and your work colleagues can be Navy, Army, Air Force, and civilian.
You may also have the opportunity to serve overseas, on exercise or on deployment.
Career Progression and Training
During your first 11 months in the Navy, you will be taught core military, mariner, and leadership skills in order to be an effective officer in the Navy.
Basic Training - Junior Officer Common Training: This initial training is known as Junior Officer Common Training (JOCT) and begins with nine days at Devonport Naval Base and the Tamaki Leadership Centre in Whangaparaoa.
Job Training: Specialist training as a Legal Officer is provided as appropriate on an ongoing basis, most of which is conducted in-house.
Following successful completion of JOCT, you will typically be promoted to Sub-Lieutenant and begin familiarisation with Defence Legal Services in Auckland, Waiouru, Palmerston North, Wellington, or Burnham.
Additionally, your hard work, experience, and training accomplishments as a Legal Officer are rewarded by promotions in rank and salary.
Reservists who have not previously served in the Regular Force (ab initio Reservists) commit to a minimum cumulative total of 20 days' service each year for professional development and operational delivery.
This is made up of a minimum of 14 days of full-time training, exercises, operational activity, and/or supplementation to the Regular Force plus weeknight and weekend training.
Naval Reservists receive a daily rate of pay, commensurate with their rank and experience, and this encompasses travel time required to attend training.
Salary
As a Reserve Legal Officer, the minimum remuneration you will be paid from day one is a daily rate of $231.09 plus an allowance for holiday pay.
You are paid for each hour you work, up to a maximum of eight hours' pay per day.
Your remuneration will continue to increase on promotion and with the gaining of seniority.
Entry Requirements
Must have completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). See education tab for further details.
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.
You must be medically fit for service.
You must meet the minimum entry fitness standards.
Colour perception restrictions may apply.
There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the TSV security clearance required for this trade. You must be free of any criminal convictions.
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