Junior Lawyer or Paralegal - Community Law
Baywide Community Law is seeking a Junior Lawyer or Paralegal to join our team in Whakatāne. This is an opportunity to use your legal skills to support people from all backgrounds, while contributing to a service grounded in kaupapa Māori values.
Mō mātou | About us
Baywide Community Law provides free legal services to people across the Bay of Plenty. With offices in Tauranga and Whakatāne, and outreach clinics throughout the region, we support a diverse community with a wide range of legal needs.
Baywide is part of a national Kaupapa Māori Services Pilot, focused on improving access to justice for whānau Māori. Our team is working to deliver services in ways that reflect te ao Māori, tikanga, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, while remaining accessible and inclusive for everyone in our community.
Mō te tūranga | About the role
This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You will work across a broad range of legal areas, providing high-quality legal information, advice, and assistance to clients from diverse backgrounds.
The role includes assisting with outreach clinics in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, contributing to legal education initiatives and participating in community engagement events.
You’ll build trusted relationships with clients, community organisations, iwi, hapū and whānau, while contributing to a service that is culturally responsive and community-focused.
Ngā painga | What we offer
- A meaningful role where you can make a real difference
- Interesting and varied work
- Opportunities to connect with iwi/hapū/whānau through outreach clinics, education sessions and community events
- A supportive, collaborative team environment
- Ongoing professional development, including 12 hours CPD per year and Practising Certificate covered for qualified lawyers
- Genuine work/life balance
- Fixed-term opportunity through to June 2027
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | What you’ll bring
- Experience working as a lawyer, legal executive or paralegal in New Zealand
- Understanding of te ao Māori, with experience/confidence in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga
- The desire and commitment to work with whānau in the Bay of Plenty to improve access to justice
- Appreciation of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the ability to apply them in practice
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage with people from diverse backgrounds
- Sound judgement and problem-solving capability
- Ability to manage client relationships and caseloads effectively
- A collaborative, team-focused approach
Ideally, you will also have some experience in one or more of these areas:
- Māori Land Law
- Enduring Powers of Attorney
- Applications under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act
Ngā whakaritenga | Requirements
- You will have either:
- a current NZLS practising certificate; or
- eligibility to obtain a NZLS practising certificate; or
- a legal executive qualification; or
- significant experience working within the New Zealand legal system
- Current full NZ driver’s licence and willingness to travel across the Bay of Plenty
- Strong computer skills and experience using client management systems
- Legal right to work in New Zealand
Tono mai | Apply now
If you’re looking for a role where you can utilise your legal skills while making a positive impact in the community, we’d love to hear from you.
Recruitment for this role is being managed by Hanna Lowery – QJumpers HR Assist. For a confidential discussion, please call 027 8939358
Skills & Experience
Applications for this role will take you to the advertisers site.
