Professional Standards Officer (Southern)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Professional Standards Officer to join our Southern team based in Christchurch. In this role, you will play a critical part in supporting the integrity of the legal profession by processing complaints under Part 7 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006.

You will work closely with Standards Committees, members of the profession, and the public, providing high‑quality advice, investigation, and secretariat support. This is a complex and rewarding role requiring sound judgement, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage sensitive matters with professionalism and empathy.

This is a permanent part-time position (25 hours per week) spread across 3.5 working days.

Our ideal applicant will have:

• A relevant tertiary qualification (e.g., Bachelor of Laws), plus 3 years’ legal or regulatory experience or equivalent investigations and complaints handling experience.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to distil and present complex information clearly and concisely.
• Experience supporting decision‑making bodies and committees.
• Strong judgement, discretion, and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• High levels of resilience, empathy, and professionalism when dealing with sensitive and challenging matters.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, while also operating independently.
• Excellent computer literacy and attention to detail

A current practising certificate is not required for this role.

We are looking for candidates who share our purpose of Kaitiaki of an exemplary legal professional in Aotearoa and understand how our values of Kaitiakitanga – tāria te wā, Manaakitanga and Pono underpin the work we do at New Zealand Law Society. 

What we can offer 

Become part of an exceptional team in a dynamic organisation, where the work is challenging and rewarding. We offer a cohesive workplace culture across our organisation with a number of social activities to come together across teams to connect and collaborate with colleagues. Your development and growth will be nurtured, and your work recognised and valued.  

It is important that the Law Society can attract, support, and retain quality staff and one of the ways we can achieve this is by offering employees some flexibility to manage their work/life balance. We embrace flexible working to support our staff to deliver their best and achieve a good work-life balance and to connect and collaborate with others by providing a hybrid approach sharing your time between the office and home. 

Other benefits of working at the Law Society include: 

• Three days Special Leave to use during our annual close-down period between Christmas and the New Year
• Discounts and benefits as part of our membership Partner Programme
• Competitive remuneration

Diversity and inclusion are important to us, and the Law Society is keen to ensure that appointments reflect Aotearoa New Zealand’s multicultural society. Applications from a diverse range of backgrounds are encouraged. 

About the Law Society The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa is the professional body for barristers and solicitors in New Zealand. The Law Society regulates all lawyers practising in New Zealand and is the membership organisation for practising lawyers. With 13 branches throughout the country, the Law Society is the Kaitiaki (guardian) of the practice of law in Aotearoa New Zealand and the consumers of legal services.

How to apply

If you would like to apply, please submit your CV and cover letter through Seek.

Applications close 5pm, Friday 8 May 2026

Shortlisting may occur whilst the advertisement is open, so we encourage you to make an early application.

For a confidential discussion and additional information, including the position description, please contact the People and Culture team at human.resources@lawsociety.org.nz

Applicants for this position must have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.