Junior Lawyer

Ministry of Justice - New Zealand; Tauranga; On-site; NZD 67,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4.4 weeks holiday leave

Flexible work hours where possible

Online professional development portal

Access to inclusive networks

Job summary

Ministry of Justice - New Zealand's Public Defence Service (PDS) Tauranga is seeking a motivated junior lawyer aiming to advance in criminal litigation. The role offers a renowned development programme and a supportive team environment within a high-calibre criminal justice setting.

You will be developing credibility with judges, peers and the wider legal community, working in a close-knit team and exchanging ideas to drive outcomes. This is a challenging yet highly rewarding position.

Qualifications

• Be admitted to the NZ Bar or will be within two months of application.
• Be passionate about criminal justice issues.
• Love working in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop credibility with judges and peers.
• Work as part of a close-knit legal team.
• Engage in idea exchange and brainstorming with colleagues.
• Relate empathetically to a wide range of people.

Skills

NZ Bar admission within 2 months

Team player

Passion for criminal justice

Job description

Te Haeata/The Opportunity

Have been admitted to the NZ Bar? Eligible for a NZ Law Society practising certificate? Have a strong desire to develop your career in the specialist area of criminal advocacy? Want to learn from the best? This is a truly exciting opportunity.

Job Description

The Public Defence Service (PDS) Tauranga is looking for a motivated junior lawyer who wants to progress their careers to the next level. The PDS is well known for its comprehensive professional development programme in criminal litigation and is considered an excellent training ground and full of opportunities for a successful legal career.

Ō Pūkenga/Skills And Experience

• Be admitted to the New Zealand Bar or will be within two months of application.
• Be passionate about criminal justice issues.
• Love working in a team environment.

You will be developing an ability to build credibility with judges, peers and others in the legal community. As an important member of a close-knit team, you will enjoy exchanging ideas and brainstorming. You will have empathy and the ability to relate to a wide range of people. This is a challenging but truly satisfying job.

Mō mātou/About us

At Te Tāhū o te Ture - the Ministry of Justice, we're committed to strengthening people's trust in the law of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

The PDS is part of the Ministry of Justice and the wider justice sector. The Ministry provides centralised business services, infrastructure, and support to the work of the PDS.

The Public Defence Service (PDS) provides high-quality legal advice and representation in a full range of criminal cases. Aimed at helping people access justice, the PDS promotes the values of respect, integrity, service and the delivery of excellent service to its clients.

Joining Te Tāhū o te Ture means you will become part of an organisation that welcomes and supports people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities and religions.

Ngā painga o tēnei wāhi mahi/What's great about working here

Benefits

• 4.4 weeks holiday leave
• flexible work hours where possible
• an online professional development portal
• access to a variety of inclusive and proactive networks

Utu ā-tau/Salary

The remuneration band for this role is $67,015 to $89,934 – while the appointing salary will be based on skills and experience, we are willing to pay higher in the band to attract strong candidates into this role.

Applications close on 21 September 2026; however, we will be reviewing CVs as they come in and inviting successful candidates to interview before the close date.