Benic grew up in Whanganui before studying at the University of Otago for five years and then heading for New York where he worked as a bartender.
"It took a lot of work to get here, over many years, including some in which I didn't know if I'd keep doing this," Benic said.
"But so far since going professional, this has been everything I could have possibly imagined."
Benic jokes that he became interested in law because he didn't want to do medicine, but really, he enjoys looking at cases impartially and trying to divorce feelings on them.
He will receive his practise certificate in about a week and will then get to work for Wilkinson Smith Lawyers.
"I had all my family here today, the entire firm showed up which was fantastic because I'm going into criminal litigation and I will be around here a lot," Benic said.
"It's nice to finally be on the other side of the glass."