Practising law in New Zealand
Practising law in New Zealand
All lawyers must comply with fundamental obligations, including obligations to uphold the rule of law and to facilitate the administration of justice in New Zealand, and to protect the interests of their clients (subject to their overriding duties as officers of the High Court and under legislation).
All lawyers are regulated by the Society when they provide any legal services, conveyancing services or services provided by undertaking the work of a real estate agent. In New Zealand anybody may provide legal services, but only lawyers may provide reserved areas of work. It is an offence for anybody who is not a lawyer or incorporated law firm to provide legal services under a misleading description.
The prerequisites for practising as a lawyer in New Zealand are admission as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and holding a current practising certificate from the New Zealand Law Society. A lawyer may practise either as a barrister and solicitor or as a barrister sole. A barrister and solicitor may be:
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employed by a law firm or incorporated law firm
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employed as a corporate lawyer (in-house counsel)
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in practice on own account as a sole practitioner or partner in a law firm
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a director and/or shareholder in an incorporated law firm.
There is a special rank of Senior Counsel. That rank was formerly called Queen’s Counsel. Lawyers appointed as Queen’s Counsel before 1 August 2008 may choose which title to use.
Currently there are more than 10,300 lawyers in New Zealand. More than 40% are women.
More information about legal practice in New Zealand is available.