How to become a Lawyer in the Cook Islands
- Jaiah Arai
- Aug 2, 2022
- 1 min read

There are several steps you need to take in order to become a lawyer in the Cook Islands. First, you'll need to complete your undergraduate studies at an accredited university. You can then apply to study law at one of two post-graduate institutions: The University of Auckland or Victoria University of Wellington. Both offer programs that prepare students for legal practice as well as those focused on research and teaching.
The next step is sitting for the bar exam, which is held once a year in November or December. After passing this exam, you will be eligible to practice law in the Cook Islands.
Ultimately, if you want to work as a lawyer in the Cook Islands, you'll need to be qualified. This entails getting a general degree and completing post-graduate training before sitting for the bar exam. It's a long road that might seem formidable at first, but it will all pay off in the end when you're celebrated as a member of New Zealand's legal community. If nothing else, remember that it's as much about networking as it is about schooling, so make friends and talk to people along the way. You never know who may help get you started down this path.
Comments