Rōia Hapori | Community Lawyer (Wellington)

An opportunity for an intermediate to senior lawyer to support Māori with access to justice

Nō mātou | About Us

Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley (CLWHV) is dedicated to meeting unmet legal need within our communities.  Our Pou Whirinaki – Services to Māori team focuses of providing services to Māori in accordance with tikanga Māori.  We do this through delivering legal education sessions and advocacy support services within the community. 

Our service focuses on:

·        Providing services in areas of law particularly relevant for Māori

·        Providing services that would otherwise be inaccessible to many Māori

·        Focusing on the rights and responsibilities of Māori, to ensure that communities can have the reasonble ability to:

o   Enjoy decent income, housing, education, and health services

o   Be protected from physical, emotional and cultural harm

·        Holding the state accountable to properly exercise its powers for Māori.

About the role | Kōrero mō te tūranga

We are looking for a community lawyer to join our small, vibrant Pou Whirinaki team.  The successful candidate will be based in Wellington and be responsible for providing legal advice and advocacy to Māori clients in Wellington, Hutt Valley and Porirua. This involves:

·        Providing initial legal advice to clients in our offices and ongoing assistance or representations to individuals, whānau, hapū, iwi and community organisations

·        Managing a caseload of legal matters effectively and efficiently

·        Collaborating with Kaihāpai Hapori in relation to legal advocacy and education

·        Assisting with the planning and development of Pou Whirinaki’s legal education programme, including attending education sessions at kura kaupapa Māori, marae and other wāhi Māori. 

About you | Ō pūmanawa

We are looking for someone who is:

-        A barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand with a practising certificate (or eligibility to hold one)

-        At least four years post qualification experience. 

-        Passionate about working with Māori and providing pathways for better outcomes.

-        Dedicated to improving access to justice for Māori and for whānau, hapū and Iwi

-        Familiar with applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Tikanga Māori and Te Reo Māori in their work

-        Confident in their ability to work independently out in the community

-        Able to build and maintain relationships with Māori, Māori service providers and Māori community groups

-        Flexible with their location of work arrangements.

-        Is able to drive and holds a minimum of a Restricted Driver License.

What we offer | Ko ngā hua

In return, Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley offers flexible and supportive working conditions, a strong collective employment agreement, generous leave entitlements and great colleagues.

Apply now | Tono mai

Please see the link below to the full job description for the role.

If you are interested, please send through your C.V and cover letter outlining your suitability for this role to pouwhirinaki@wclc.org.nz.

Applications close on [24 July 2025]