Principal Solicitor

Candidate Experience Site - Department of Internal Affairs; Wellington; On-site; NZD 148,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Internal Affairs in Wellington seeks an experienced Principal Solicitor to advise across Te Tari Taiwhenua’s regulatory work. You will support Legal Managers, oversee the team’s regulatory work, and help improve how the team operates under urgent or complex circumstances.

You will identify priorities and emerging risks, provide strategic guidance, mentor colleagues, and build capability across the Legal Team while coordinating with Crown Law and external advisers.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years PQE.
• Proven senior-level legal experience and sound judgement on complex or high-risk matters.
• Strong regulatory and public law expertise.
• Ability to move between portfolios and understand unfamiliar issues.
• Excellent communication and relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Support Legal Managers oversee the team’s regulatory work and legal risk.
• Provide strategic and practical guidance across regulatory frameworks.
• Review or shape advice, mentor colleagues, and build legal capability across the organisation.
• Identify priorities and emerging risks; provide options for moving forward.
• Build trusted relationships with Crown Law and external advisers.

Skills

Senior-level legal experience

Regulatory and public law

Excellent communication

Mentoring leadership

Treaty of Waitangi awareness

Education

Barrister and Solicitor of NZ

Job description

About Us | Mō mātou

The legal mahi at Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs spans so many areas, for example gambling regulation (including online gambling), anti-money laundering, digital identity, charities, National Library and Archives, life events (births, deaths, marriages and civil unions), citizenships, ministerial services, and inquiry support to name a few.

The role | Tetūnă

As Principal Solicitor, you will be a trusted senior adviser deployed where your expertise is most needed. Working across Te Tari's two legal teams, you will support the Legal Managers oversee the team’s regulatory work and legal risk, as well as look for ways to improve how the team works across our regulatory frameworks.

The mahi spans across Te Tari Taiwhenua's diverse portfolio. You may focus on working in a particular area, lead a special project, take care of a sensitive or complex matter, provide senior capacity during an urgent response, or support another lawyer to deliver high-quality advice.

You will help identify priorities and emerging risks, provide strategic and practical guidance, review or shape advice, mentor colleagues, and build legal capability across the organisation.

The work involves regulatory compliance and enforcement and providing strategic advice in relation to litigation. You will build trusted relationships across Te Tari Taiwhenua, Crown Law, and external advisers, while contributing to capability and continuous improvement across the Legal Team.

This role suits an experienced, adaptable lawyer who enjoys variety, works well at pace and helps others deliver excellent work.

What you bring | Nō u te rourou

• A minimum of 7 years PQE
• Proven senior-level legal experience and sound judgement on complex or high-risk matters
• Strong regulatory and public law expertise
• The agility to move between portfolios and quickly understand unfamiliar issues
• Working effectively under urgency, sensitivity or ambiguity
• The ability to identify emerging risks, support managerial oversight, and escape issues while providing options for moving forward
• Excellent communication, relationship management and influencing skills
• A collaborative leadership style with experience mentoring, coaching and supporting other senior lawyers;
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi | The Treaty of Waitangi is important to the legal team’s work, so an interest in Māori/ Crown relations and the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is desirable
• Qualification as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, with a current practising certificate or eligibility to obtain one

For you | Mō u

At the Department of Internal Affairs, we are committed to offering a collaborative and innovative culture where your perspective and ideas will be welcomed. We want our people to thrive within a culture of best practice, while being able to set and achieve goals and being encouraged to challenge the status quo.

To learn more about the diverse, important mahi we do at the Department and see whywe'rea great placeto work check out our website https://www.dia.govt.nz/

Benefits - About Internal Affairs - Careers with us - Benefits - dia.govt.nz

The appointing range for this role is$148,320 - $184,576.

To review the full job description, please click here.

If you have any questions, please email Tania Nedelcheva–Pearson - [e-mail].