Majority of lawyers in practice for less than 14 years

Half of New Zealand’s lawyers have been in practice for 13 years or less, according to information from the New Zealand Law Society.

The Society is responsible for regulating the legal profession and issuing practising certificates. The information shows the number of years since lawyers were admitted to the roll of barristers and solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand.

Of the 11,395 current practising certificate holders, 50.3% (5,728) have been admitted since 1997. Just over one-quarter of practising certificates (25.9%) are held by lawyers who were admitted in the last five years, and 41.1% were admitted in the last 10 years.

At the other end of the scale, New Zealand has 595 lawyers (5.2% of total) who were admitted over 40 years ago, and 91 lawyers (0.8%) who have been in practice for 50 years or over.

One lawyer who was admitted in 1946 (64 years ago) is still in practice, along with three who were admitted in 1948. While this is a long time, it doesn’t approach American lawyer David Deutsch who in 2007 completed 80 years of legal practice after being admitted to the New York bar in 1927.

© New Zealand Law Society 2008