Mō te tūranga
About the role
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Specialisations
Education & Support roles | Officers & Management
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Entry type
Officer entry
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Under training
$86,092
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Location
Varied
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.
Accepting Applications
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Initial Induction Training 27/1, starts Apply by 14 Mar 2026
Apply Now
Requirements
Basics
- Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.
- Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria, as stipulated by the Government's Protective Security Requirements.
- Pass an Officer Selection Board.
Education
Hold a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or be in your final year of study.
Fitness & Medical
Citizenship
There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required SV security clearance for this trade.
Find out if you’re eligible here.
Period of Service
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.
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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:
- International and domestic law applicable to the operations of armed forces
- Assistance to the Civil Power
- Operational planning
- Public law alongside central government partners
- Law relating to emerging technologies
- Risk management
- Health and safety
- Resource management
- Corporate governance
- Contract
- Human rights and privacy
- Military service and civilian employment
- Criminal law through the Military Justice System
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.
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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:
- Law of armed conflict
- Rules of engagement
- Law of the sea
- International Law generally (including international treaties)
- The military justice system
Career progression and training
01Basic Training
Basic Training
Officer Cadet School (OCS)
(12 weeks) Location: Waiouru Military Camp
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 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
02Job Training
Job Training
As a junior Legal Officer, specialist training is provided as appropriate, most of which is conducted in-house. You may 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.
You will be required to conduct training designed to complement your appointment and prepare you for military service, including the potential to deploy on operations.
03Ongoing Training
Ongoing Training
Throughout your career you will have the opportunity to attend courses, conferences and exercises within New Zealand and overseas.
Legal Officers will frequently travel overseas to consult with partner nations, conduct military exercises, and attend legal military centric courses. You will be encouraged to pursue relevant postgraduate study opportunities. The experience and expertise developed throughout your career will be held in high regard.
04Career Progression
Career Progression
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 will be Army, Navy, Air Force and Civilian.
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.
Following successful completion of the Initial Training, you will typically be promoted to Flying Officer and posted to one of the NZDF legal offices for on-the-job training as a military lawyer. These offices are located in Auckland, Waiouru, Palmerston North, Wellington and Burnham. You can expect to be posted to other junior appointments in other NZDF establishments in the early stages of your career.
Benefits & allowances
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.
In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:
- Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
- Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
- Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
- Opportunities to travel
- Free and subsidised medical and dental care
- Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
- Subsidised insurance cover
Salary & benefits
Specific 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.
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Under training
$86,092
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Future potential earnings
$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.
Medical & Fitness
The application process
Your step-by-step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.
Application process
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