Lawyer Policy and Legislation - Wellington

Ministry of Social Development; Wellington; On-site; NZD 91,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is seeking a Lawyer in its Policy and Legislation Legal Team in Wellington. You will deliver high quality legal advice across policy, legislative, and operational work, supporting the ministry's regulatory stewardship and public service obligations.

Key responsibilities include advising on a broad range of public and operational law matters, drafting secondary legislation, and collaborating with the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.

Qualifications

• Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand with practicing certificate
• At least 2 years post-qualification experience
• Understanding of legal, policy, and practice issues relevant to the Ministry’s business
• Strong relationship-building and collaborative skills
• Ability to work in a political/regulatory environment

Responsibilities

• Providing legal advice on a broad range of operational and public law matters
• Supporting policy development and regulatory reform
• Drafting secondary legislation, and working directly with the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office on the drafting of primary legislation
• Identifying and managing legal risk across complex and politically sensitive matters
• Ensuring MSD meets its legal and compliance obligations

Skills

Legal analysis

Policy understanding

Relationship building

Collaboration

Regulatory awareness

Government network experience

Education

NZ Barrister & Solicitor

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Lawyer Policy and Legislation - Wellington

Date: 7 Oct 2026

Location:
Wellington, NZ

The Policy and Legislation team works collaboratively across MSD to advise on operational, policy and legislative matters, in a way which achieves the Ministry’s regulatory stewardship obligations.

As part of the Policy and Legislation team you will get the opportunity to work with talented colleagues that will support you to develop your skills as a Lawyer while contributing to work that has a meaningful impact on the lives of New Zealanders.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

As a Lawyer in the Policy and Legislation Legal Team, you will play a key role in delivering high quality legal advice across MSD’s policy, legislative, and operational work.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing legal advice on a broad range of operational and public law matters
• Supporting policy development and regulatory reform
• Drafting secondary legislation, and working directly with the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office on the drafting of primary legislation
• Identifying and managing legal risk across complex and politically sensitive matters
• Ensuring MSD meets its legal and compliance obligations

This role will require you to work collaboratively with colleagues from across the Ministry as well as with Lawyers, Senior Lawyers and Principal Counsel within MSD Legal.

Applicants must be admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand and hold (or be eligible for) a practicing certificate.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• An understanding of legal, policy, and practice issues relevant to the Ministry’s business including the legislation MSD administers and works with
• Proven ability to provide high-quality legal services within a complex political and regulatory environment
• The ability to work collaboratively with excellent relationship building skills
• Prior experience in the Government Legal NetworkAt least 2 years post qualification experience

Strong applicants that do not strictly meet all of the above criteria will be considered for the role.

Salary | Utu-ā-tau: $90,743.00 - $109,980.00

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is a people-centred organisation. We’re in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.

We provide social policy advice to government, and assistance including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.

As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner, we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.

Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents.

We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. You can find out more about our values here.