New Zealand Law Society - Practising Well
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The law is a fulfilling profession, but it can also be a challenging one. Practising Well provides support whether you’re looking for advice on how to progress your career, a professional sounding board, or counselling to assist you through a stressful situation.
The Law Society has partnered with Vitae to offer a free and confidential counselling service. The service provides for up to 6 free confidential sessions for anyone in a legal workplace, whether you're a lawyer or not.
To talk to a counsellor contact Vitae: Freephone 0508 664 981, complete the online referral form or download the Vitae app from App Store or Google Play.
Mentoring is an informal and voluntary way of networking and learning. Whether you’re looking for support or want to give back, our Mentoring Programme is a free way to connect with other lawyers and support each other professionally, wherever you are in New Zealand.
The programme is open to all lawyers and people who are admitted but are not yet practising or are between roles and do not currently hold a practising certificate. The programme is free to join, for more information email mentoring@lawsociety.org.nz.
The National Friends Panel is made up of lawyers who can be contacted on a confidential basis with questions or concerns relating to practice issues. This can include specific situations you are unsure about and what to expect in a legal workplace more generally. Additionally, several lawyers are also available to discuss sensitive matters such as workplace harassment.
The Complaints Advisory Panel is made up of lawyers who are available to be contacted on a confidential basis by lawyers who are the subject of a complaint. The panel is supplementary to the existing National Friends Panel service.
We provide a list of lawyers who present themselves as available to work as locums for when you need a break for recreational or health reasons and to provide cover for short term absences.
The Law Society has a dedicated 0800 phone line (0800 0800 28) where members of the legal community can discuss sensitive matters with a Law Society staff member.
Law Care is a confidential point of contact for lawyers and law firm employees who have experienced, witnessed, or been affected by sexual assault, sexual harassment, or other unacceptable behaviour.
If you have experienced or witnessed suspected misconduct or unsatisfactory conduct, you can raise a concern or make a complaint about a lawyer to the Lawyers Complaints Service.
For general enquiries about Practising Well Services, email: practising.well@lawsociety.org.nz