New Zealand Law Society - Principal Solicitor (Practice Lead)
Ready to step into a true leadership role beyond an ordinary law firm?
In this senior leadership role, you’ll shape and sharpen our client practice and oversee a passionate legal team delivering face-to-face legal advice and education to thousands of Aucklanders each year.
Our next Principal Solicitor will bring outstanding leadership qualities and strong legal judgement in equal measure. It’s a fantastic opportunity for someone with current approval to practice on own account – or demonstrated experience and skills to step into that space and complete Stepping Up.
About us
Waitematā Community Law Centre is one of New Zealand’s largest independent Community Law Centres (CLCs). Our organisation is a unique hybrid – equal parts law firm and community orientated Not-For-Profit.
We are primarily a brief intervention legal service, funded to deliver free legal advice, outreach and education across our Waitematā catchment –480,000 people living in West Auckland, North Shore and Rodney.
We are in an exciting growth phase, committed to expanding our reach and impact. With mahi that is uniquely interesting, fast paced and rewarding, every day our lawyers are helping clients achieve life changing results.
Based out of our main office in Henderson, our paid team currently includes nine lawyers, client administration staff and an extended team of volunteer law students and pro-bono lawyers.
About the Role:
We are seeking a Principal Solicitor to provide senior legal leadership and shape the direction of our rapidly growing practice. The role is 37.5 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday, with some flexibility around hours and/or days for the right candidate.
While you’ll stay connected to client work, this is a pivotal senior leadership role, primarily focused on leading others, strengthening capability, and driving practice development. You’ll supervise and support a team of staff and pro-bono lawyers, ensure quality and consistency across our legal services.
It’s an opportunity to step into (or return to) a position of professional authority and lead in a proactive, values-driven environment.
A quick look at what you’ll be doing:
Lead, mentor and develop a team of staff lawyers, building capability and supporting great client outcomes.
Provide overall leadership of the Centre’s legal practice, ensuring high standards of service, ethics and compliance, including supervision requirements under section 31(4) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006.
Work in close partnership with General Manager and executive team on all organisational and delivery goals, including the recruitment, development and performance of paid staff and volunteers.
Improve legal service delivery through new processes, tools, resources and feedback mechanisms aligned with client needs and organisational strategy.
Develop and maintain policies, precedents, templates and resources that enhance the quality, consistency and efficiency of legal services.
Oversee complex casework and provide expert legal guidance across areas relevant to our clients.
Maintain a smaller client caseload to stay connected to client needs and service delivery.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, particularly within the legal profession, to enhance the impact and reach of our mahi.
Our successful applicants for this position will need:
To have completed Stepping Up and qualified to practise on your own account (preferable) or ready to complete Stepping Up with our support.
At least 6+ years PQE, admitted to the roll of Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of NZ with a current practicing certificate (or able to be).
Proven leadership experience, including supervising others or leading teams.
Strong mentoring and coaching skills, with a genuine interest in developing others, building capability and fostering a positive, client-focused culture.
The ability to make sound decisions on complex legal matters and balance strategic leadership with operational support.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, practical and accessible legal advice as a confident, persuasive presenter.
Broad knowledge of New Zealand law relevant to community clients (including family, employment, immigration, tenancy, consumer, criminal and estates), with strength in one or more areas.
Demonstrated ability to work systematically to expand access to justice, remove barriers and incorporate our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
A full driver's license.
To thrive in this role, you will:
Be organised, proactive and extremely outcomes focused.
Take a practical, solutions-focused approach, using sound judgement and initiative.
Confident identifying opportunities, challenges and solutions from multiple perspectives.
Be reliable calm and empathetic, able to support others through complex or high-pressure situations.
Enjoy a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment where most client matters are typically resolved within days (not weeks or months).
Value collaboration, inclusion and working with a diverse team and client base.
Bring energy, curiosity and a desire to shape and grow a practice.
Comfortably move between strategic leadership and hands-on operational support.
Demonstrate leadership style that is self-aware, reflexive and reliable.
Why choose us?
A truly rewarding leadership opportunity – shape the direction of the practice and influence how we deliver services.
Outstanding life/work balance (in that order) with a ‘work stays at work’ culture and flexible, family-friendly hours.
A dynamic and collegial environment with passionate colleagues, pro bono and student volunteers.
A brand-new office, purpose designed for our centre in 2025.
A handy central Henderson location – free secure, covered parking and an easy ‘against the peak’ commute from many parts of Auckland; OR
a short 350m walk from CRL connected Henderson train station.
Generous annual leave – standard four weeks plus bonus paid days off between Christmas and New Years and paid day off on your birthday.
Work for an organisation with a strong ‘for-purpose’ mission, part of a thriving community law network across Aotearoa NZ.
How to Apply:
If this sounds like you, please submit an online application via Seek with your CV and cover letter. We’ll need to see you have the right to work and practice law in New Zealand and have a valid driver’s license.
Please note:
Applications will be reviewed as received, and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Diversity is a strength - we encourage applicants from all backgrounds.
We are unable to consider applications from candidates that do not currently have the right to live, work and practice in New Zealand.
If you would like to discuss the role on a confidential basis, please contact: careers@waitematalaw.org.nz.
