Working to improve diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do, it is critical to the success and sustainability of the legal profession. The Law Society's current focus is gender equality, which is part of its broader work programme on diversity in the legal profession.

Gender Equality Charter

The Law Society encourages all legal workplaces to sign up to its Gender Equality Charter. While the charter focuses on women in the legal profession, some charter commitments are relevant to other aspects of diversity. We have developed some guidelines to help anyone who signs up to meet charter commitments.

• Gender Equality Charter | Tūtohinga Ira Tangata Ōrite (PDF File, 60KB)
• Gender Equality Charter Guidelines (PDF File, 220KB)
• How you can sign up
• Gender Equality Charter Signatories

Practical tools and resources for everyone

We can all take action to improve the culture of the legal profession. Whether you're a senior partner, a general counsel or junior lawyer, here are some practical tools and resources to help you.

• Flexible work guidance
• Unconscious bias
• Gender pay audits
• Parental leave toolkit
• Equitable instructions
• Making it work: success stories

By the numbers

• Statistics and information about women in the legal profession in New Zealand

The business case for gender equality

Gender equality is vital for legal workplaces looking to grow, meet the needs of clients, recruit the best talent and stay innovative in a fast changing environment.

• What does the research show?

Find out what's on near you

There are a number of local women lawyer groups around New Zealand who reqularly hold events.

• Wellington Branch Women in Law Committee
• Wellington Women Lawyers' Association (WWLA)
• Auckland Women Lawyers' Association (AWLA)
• Otago Women Lawyers' Assocation (OWLS)
• Canterbury Women's Legal Association (CWLA)
• Waikato Bay of Plenty Women in Law Association (WILA)

Feedback

We welcome feedback. Please contact womeninlaw@lawsociety.org.nz.