Army - Legal Officer

Legal Officers provide advice on matters which are diverse, consequential and central to protecting New Zealand’s sovereign territory and advancing our nation’s interest through military operations.

About the role

The entry type is Under training. Location : Varied. Salary : $86,092.

A Legal Officers career is distinguished from other law careers by the broad areas of practice and the opportunity to advise on matters which are not ordinarily available outside of defence, security and intelligence organisations. Legal Officers often experience an enduring sense of purpose attached to the work they do and are rewarded with the knowledge that their contribution has had a direct and valued influence on matters important to New Zealand.

Legal Officers are uniformed members of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and will hold rank in either the Navy, Army or Air Force. The Defence Legal Service is made up of officers from all three services and Legal Officers will advise across all three services regardless of their chosen service.

Requirements

Basics

• Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.

Hold a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or be in your final year of study.

There is no requirement for you to stay in the NZDF for any length of time if you have already completed your Legal Professional Studies or you conduct these fully funded but part-time.

If you complete your Legal Professional Studies fully funded and full time, you’ll be required to spend another two years in the Army.

We offer guidance on entry requirements in our eligibility section. Apply if you're uncertain, as we’ll work through the criteria with you to determine if you can proceed.

Job on Base

As a Legal Officer in the NZDF, you will be a part of a generalist practice and there is no other legal role in government that cover the breadth and depth of practice. The career of a Legal Officer will vary greatly depending on what appointment you hold across three areas of law (operational, resources, and personnel). You will move frequently among these areas throughout your career and become an expert in all.

Subject areas in which you can practice are :

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.

Job on Deployment

Whether working in Task Group Headquarters, in the field, or within a fleet of naval ships, Legal Officers deploy with other elements of the NZDF on exercises and operations. As a Legal Officer in these environments, you will be expected to provide legal advice on the application of :

Training : Initial 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 is 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.

Earn 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.

Benefits

In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include :

Specific remuneration arrangements can 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.

Remuneration

Salary range : $86,092 – $140,784.

Am I fit enough?

If you want to be part of the NZ Defence Force you need to be medically and physically fit for military duties worldwide.

Your step‑by‑step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.

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 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.

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