Legal Support Officer - until 30June 2027

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade; Wellington; Sur place; NZD 49 000 - 60 000; Temps partiel

Résumé du poste

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is seeking a Legal Support Officer to provide administrative support to MFAT's Legal Division, focusing on mutual legal assistance, extradition, private international law and treaty-making. The role involves case management, document handling, and assisting with treaty publications. Fixed-term, part-time (10–15 hours/week) until 30 June 2027.

Salary is $54,996 pro-rated, inclusive of KiwiSaver. NZ citizen; Confidential security clearance required.

Qualifications

• Self-motivated law student with an understanding of the basic principles of international law.
• Ability to plan and organise workload.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated interest in international law and/or international relations.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills and an ability to work successfully with a diverse range of people internally and externally.
• Competent in Microsoft Office suite of products.
• Ability to work independently in completing tasks and collaboratively with others when required

Responsabilités

• Supporting management of cases and issues in mutual legal assistance, extradition, private international law, and related legal tasks.
• Managing the register for mutual assistance and extradition requests
• Prepare letters and third-person notes for private international law and mutual legal assistance, extradition
• Receive and transmit documents from overseas posts, local agencies, and local foreign missions; liaise with overseas posts and relevant departments
• Support the Treaty Officer and Treaty Support Officer in international treaty-making
• Format, print and bind treaty and arrangement texts in preparation for signature
• Assist with publication of treaties in the New Zealand Treaty Series and presentations to the House of Representatives
• Support responding to treaty-related enquiries from the public and other government agencies
• General legal research and legal assistance for members of Legal Division

Connaissances

Strong written and verbal skills

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Microsoft Office

Plan and organise workload

Manage multiple priorities

Independent and collaborative work

Formation

Law student

Description du poste

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.

About the role

Kōrero mō te tūrangaThe Legal Support Officer provides administrative support to MFAT's Legal Division primarily in the areas of mutual legal assistance, extradition, private international law, and international treaty-making and research.

• Supporting management of cases and issues in the areas of mutual legal assistance, extradition, private international law, and working with relevant legal officers to keep them informed of updates
• Managing the register for mutual assistance and extradition requests
• Prepare letters and third person notes for private international law and cover for mutual legal assistance, extradition
• Receive and transmit documents from overseas posts, local agencies, and local foreign missions; Liaise with overseas posts and relevant departments
• Supporting the Treaty Officer and Treaty Support Officer in the area of international treaty-making
• Support formatting, printing and binding treaty and arrangement texts in preparation for signature
• Assisting with publication of treaties in the New Zealand Treaty Series and presentation to the House of Representatives
• Support responding to treaty-related enquiries from the public and other government agencies
• General legal research and legal assistance for members of Legal Division

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

This is a fixed term opportunity working 10-15 hours per week until 30 June 2027.The salary for this role is $54,996 pro-rated, inclusive of our 3.5% KiwiSaver employer contribution.

Who are we looking for?

• We want to hear from you if you are a self-motivated law student with an understanding of the basic principles of international law.
• Ability to plan and organise workload.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated interest in international law and/or international relations.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills and an ability to work successfully with a diverse range of people internally and externally.
• Competent in Microsoft Office suite of products.
• Ability to work independently in completing tasks and collaboratively with others when required

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

Our people represent NewZealand on and offshore, and in doing so make NewZealanders 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.

Applications close at midnight on 6th November 2026.

This is not a Foreign Policy/diplomatic role.This is a 'Corporate' role (known here as a Specialist role) based in central Wellington, NZ.

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 Confidential 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 Confidential clearance. Please note that this tool is not part of the formal security clearance process: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

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.