International Law Specialist

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 91,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in Wellington seeks a skilled lawyer to provide strategic legal advice on international trade frameworks, negotiate trade instruments, and engage with stakeholders. You will support NZ’s trade priorities and participate in WTO disputes and FTA processes.

The role requires an NZ-qualified lawyer with 2-3 years’ experience and familiarity with international trade law, plus strong communication skills to work across government and industry partners.

Qualifications

• NZ qualified lawyer with at least 2-3 years’ experience and have completed a Professional Legal Studies Course.
• Experience/exposure to international trade law or broader international law.
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal with the confidence to connect with a range of stakeholders at varying levels, internally and externally.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, strategically sound and accurate legal analysis and advice that supports Ministry and government trade priorities.
• Negotiate international trade-related instruments, ensuring strategic input to help shape the New Zealand position.
• Provide legal advice on compliance with and implementation of New Zealand’s international trade law rights and obligations.
• Contribute to the unit’s involvement in international dispute settlement processes (e.g. WTO disputes and FTA disputes).
• Demonstrate the organisation’s values, goals, policies and procedures in all aspects of work.

Skills

International trade law exposure

Strong communication

Education

NZ qualified lawyer with 2-3 years experience

Professional Legal Studies Course

Job description

The Ministry acts in the world to build a safer, more prosperous and more sustainable future for New Zealanders. Kia hangai ake e te Manatu he ao-haumaru, ao-tonui, ao-pumau, ki te oranga tonutanga mo Aotearoa whanui.

• Provide strategic legal and policy advice on international trade
• Support delivery of New Zealand’s trade priorities
• Permanent, Wellington based Play a pivotal role in advancing New Zealand’s trade priorities through strategic legal advice and international engagement.

About the role - Kōrero mō te tūranga

The Trade Law unit is a key part of ensuring New Zealand’s voice is heard in the turbulent context around trade rules, trade policy and need to support the rules-based trading system.

In the Trade Law Unit, you will provide legal advice on the frameworks that underpin New Zealand’s international trade relations, input into New Zealand’s trade negotiating and implementation agenda, and engage and consult with stakeholders around trade rules and trade agreements, particularly with Māori.

You will also participate in WTO cases (including a third party) and engage with bilateral and thematic teams considering the non-tariff barriers faced by New Zealand exporters in other markets.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide timely, strategically sound and accurate legal analysis and advice that supports Ministry and government trade priorities
• Negotiate international trade-related instruments, ensuring the provision of strategic input to help shape the NewZealand position
• Provide legal advice in relation to compliance with and implementation of NewZealand’s international trade law rights and obligations
• Contribute to the unit’s involvement in international dispute settlement processes (e.g. WTO disputes and FTA disputes).
• Demonstrate the organisation’s values, goals, policies and procedures in all aspects of work

For more detail you can view a copy of the position description here

The salary range for this role is $91,000 to $107,520 total remuneration, inclusive of our KiwiSaver employer contribution.

Who are we looking for? - Mā wai te mahi nei?

• NZ qualified lawyer with at least 2-3 years’ experience (and have completed a Professional Legal Studies Course)
• Experience/exposure to international trade law or broader international law
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal with the confidence and ability to connect with a range of stakeholders at varying levels, both internally and externally.

Why MFAT?

We are committed to a focus on leadership, talent, training and development, and flexible work options consistent with guidance from the Public Service Commission. MFAT is Rainbow Tick accredited. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, valued, and a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

About us - Mō mātou

Our people represent New Zealand on and offshore, and in doing so make New Zealanders safer and more prosperous. By building connections with and influencing other countries and international institutions, we advance NewZealand’s interests and pursue NewZealand's values. We provide advice to the Government on the implications for NewZealand of what is happening in the world.

To be considered for this position at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade you must be a NZ citizen. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance. Ordinarily, to obtain this level of clearance candidates must have sufficient checkable background in countries where meaningful and reliable checks can be undertaken. Where requisite checks are unable to be made, the candidate application may not be able to be progressed. Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a Top Secret clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Applications close at midnight on 5th November 2026

Please note: This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role. This is a ‘Corporate’ role (known here as a specialist role based in central Wellington, NZ). While it is not usual for specialist staff to be ‘posted’ outside of NZ, from time to time a specialist role overseas becomes available at one of our embassies, high commissions, missions or consulates. To be considered for one of these positions you would need to apply and be considered via a competitive recruitment process. If you do have an interest in an MFAT foreign policy/diplomatic career, you would be welcome to apply for this either via our graduate recruitment or mid-level foreign policy recruitment campaigns.