Michael Fraser’s vision for legal learning

At a time when the legal profession is being asked to do more with less, more complexity, more scrutiny and more pressure, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) has never been more important. But CLE, like the profession itself, is evolving, and at the helm of this evolution is Michael Fraser, the New Zealand Law Society’s new General Manager of CLE, whose vision is about much more than meeting compliance targets.

 

Fraser brings a cross-sector perspective to the role, combining academic rigour with commercial pragmatism. His background includes a PhD in accounting, executive education from Stanford, and senior leadership roles in both education and governance, most recently at the Institute of Directors. What sets him apart though is not just experience, but his instinct for what learning looks like in a world where professional demands are rapidly shifting.

Rethinking the role of learning

Fraser’s first observations on stepping into the role were both encouraging and revealing: the legal profession is incredibly generous, “lawyers are often time-poor, yet they’re among the most generous people I’ve met, always willing to dive in and contribute,” Fraser says, “many lawyers give their time freely, volunteering, mentoring and contributing to education.” That spirit, he believes, is an underrecognised strength. It’s also a key foundation for building a learning culture that goes beyond the transactional model of CLE many have grown used to.

For Fraser, the task ahead is clear. It’s about shifting CLE from being a tick-box exercise to a strategic tool, one that helps lawyers engage with the issues shaping their work, their clients, and society more broadly. That includes the familiar challenges: fast-moving legislative reform, increasingly complex client needs, and the enduring pressures of workload. But it also means addressing the personal toll that legal work can take, especially in high-stakes or emotionally taxing areas of practice.

“If you want information, you can Google it. But if you want trusted insight, peer connection, and learning that fits your legal context, you come to the Law Society”

Learning, in Fraser’s view, must respond to all of this. Not only by delivering technical knowledge, but by helping lawyers build resilience, make ethical decisions in uncertain contexts, and stay connected to each other and to the purpose of their work. Fraser’s vision is clear, “learning shouldn’t just be about compliance. It should forge connection, sharpen capabilities, and help us respond to real-world challenges with confidence.”

From education to engagement

One of the first moves with new leadership has been a deliberate re-framing of how CLE is structured within the Law Society. Previously a subsidiary company, CLE is now fully integrated into the organisation. It’s a seemingly administrative change, but one with strategic implications. Fraser knows what this means for learning, “now that CLE is fully inside the Law Society, we’re better aligned. We can tap into member insights and deliver learning that truly resonates.”

Being closer to the Law Society’s membership means CLE can draw more directly from the lived experiences, challenges, and aspirations of the profession. It also enables a more joined-up approach to learning, where insights from complaints, regulation, advocacy and professional standards can inform the kinds of education that’s offered. Fraser is clear, “we’ll keep what works, the classics like simulations and case studies, but add modern delivery, accessibility, and context.”

This more integrated approach is being formalised in a new Learning Strategy. The name itself is intentional, Fraser notes, “we deliberately called it the Learning Strategy because learning happens everywhere, online, at events, in peer discussions. It’s all part of the ecosystem.”

“Learning” rather than “education” reflects a broader, more inclusive view, one that recognises the many ways lawyers grow their knowledge and capabilities, both formally and informally.

Fraser is quick to point out that this doesn’t mean abandoning what’s worked in the past. Simulation-based learning, peer-led sessions, and practice-specific conferences remain core elements of the CLE offering. But they will be supported and extended by new formats, technologies and delivery methods designed to make learning more accessible, more relevant, and more engaging.

Innovation with purpose

While the full rollout of the Learning Strategy is still in development, signs of its intent are already visible.

CLE events like the Family Law Conference, which consistently draws high engagement, show the appetite lawyers have for both community and content. For those in emotionally demanding fields like family law, Fraser sees learning as more than a tool for keeping up, it’s a space for reflection, support and renewal. Fraser is clear on what’s important, “yes, attendance and feedback scores give us data, but the real success is when alumni tell us a workshop changed their approach months later.”

Workshops such as Advanced Litigation Skills are another example. Role-play, simulation, and peer feedback are all techniques that help lawyers not only understand, but embody, the skills they need in practice. These approaches are hardly new in the world of adult learning, but their thoughtful integration into CLE is helping lift quality and relevance.

Fraser’s goal is to build on these strengths, while opening the door to new possibilities: integrating contemporary issues like the ethical use of AI, adapting to hybrid work, and responding to the social justice dimensions of legal practice. All of these, he argues, are not just peripheral topics, they are becoming central to the way law is practised in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.

The value of trusted learning

In an era where information is cheap and everywhere, one of Fraser’s strongest convictions is that learning still matters, especially when it’s trusted, curated, and connected to the profession. “If you want mere information, you can Google it. If you want connection, context, and credibility, that’s us,” Fraser’s clear about that.

It’s not hard to find an answer to a legal question online. But knowing whether it’s right, whether it fits your jurisdiction, your client’s needs, or your ethical obligations, that’s another matter entirely. CLE at its best, Fraser believes, gives lawyers something the internet can’t: context, credibility, and connection.

It’s also about identity. In a profession where expectations are high and time is short, CLE can too easily become just another obligation. But Fraser wants to make it something lawyers look forward to because it equips them, connects them, and reminds them why they do what they do.

Looking ahead

The ultimate measure of success for Fraser and his team won’t just be attendance numbers or satisfaction scores, though those matter. It will be the profession’s engagement over time: how lawyers talk about learning, how they prioritise it, and how it shapes their work.

That’s not something that changes overnight. But the shift is already underway. With a more integrated structure, a future-focused strategy, and a leader who understands both the mechanics and meaning of learning, CLE is quietly transforming.

The message is clear: Continuing Legal Education (CLE) isn’t just about staying current. It’s about staying sharp, connected, and ready for what’s next.

And if Michael Fraser has his way, it’s about finding joy in that journey too.

CLE: What’s Changing?

A quick look at what’s new–and what’s coming–in Continuing Legal Education at the Law Society

Back in the fold

CLE has been fully reintegrated into the Law Society after previously operating as a subsidiary. This closer connection means:

• Better alignment with the profession’s needs
• Easier access to insights from across the organisation
• More cohesive, relevant learning offerings

From education to learning

The new Learning Strategy is more than a name–it’s a shift in approach. It reflects:

• A broader view of how lawyers learn
• Recognition that learning happens beyond classrooms and webinars
• An emphasis on engagement, not just compliance

Not just knowledge but capability

CLE is evolving to focus on:

• Practical, applicable skills
• Resilience and wellbeing in the profession
• Ethical and social dimensions of practice

What stays the same

Core offerings like the Family Law Conference and Advanced Litigation Skills workshops remain. Simulation, role play, and peer-based formats are still central and a commitment to high-quality content, relevant to New Zealand practice

What’s coming

Expect to see:

• More flexible and accessible learning formats
• Greater use of digital delivery
• Learning experiences that respond to issues like AI, hybrid work, and societal change

Why it matters

“If you want information, you can Google it. But if you want trusted insight, peer connection, and learning that fits your legal context, you come to the Law Society.” – Michael Fraser