Professional Standards Officer (Legal Complaints)

About the role

We are seeking an exceptional candidate to join our Professional Standards team in the Lawyers Complaints Service (LCS). To process complaints from the public and lawyers in terms of Part 7 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 in accordance with the Procedures Manual Guidelines and Practice Notes issued by the New Zealand Law Society.

This is a permanent part-time position (25 hours per week) spread across 3.5 working days (Requiring a minimum of 1 day in the office Team Day is a Monday). The first 6 weeks will require the majority of your workdays from the office.

Our Professional Standards Officer is the interface between the public and New Zealands legal profession and they play a key role in building and maintaining public trust and confidence in the work done by lawyers as well as ensuring that complaints are dealt with in a fair and efficient way.

The work is challenging varied fast-paced and can be demanding. Supported by a dedicated team of professionals and senior colleagues the role will require you to exercise sound judgement possess a strong level of personal and professional integrity and a high level of resilience.

You will be responsible for analysing often complex complaint material liaising with parties to a complaint and drafting recommendations and decisions for Lawyers Standards Committees who consider complaints and reports. You will also be responsible for providing guidance to Lawyers Standards Committees during their consideration of complaints and exercising leadership and initiative to ensure complaints are kept moving throughout the process

To be a successful in either of these roles you will have legal knowledge and prior experience in complaints handling. Strong relationship management and communication skills including the ability to confidently communicate with complainants and lawyers subject to complaints and advise Standards Committees is also essential. You will be capable of drafting succinct and accurate recommendations and decisions for LCS decision makers and Standards Committees and have a continuous improvement and team focus mindset. Experience within a regulatory environment is desirable.

To be effective in the position of Professional Standards Officer you must have the following knowledge and experience:

• Relevant tertiary qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and at least 3 years legal experience or equivalent investigations and complaints handling experience.
• This position does not require a current practising certificate.
• Understanding of legislation within a regulatory environment.
• A high standard of written and oral communication with the ability to communicate clearly and produce concise well-structured and well-reasoned written documents.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to talk to people from a variety of different backgrounds and provide guidance under pressure and in sensitive situations.
• The ability to meet deadlines create a robust routine and to plan and structure your workload.
• An awareness of the demands of legal practice and the ability to relate and empathise with the profession.
• Good judgement and a high level of discretion and initiative.
• Collaboration the ability to be flexible in your approach to your work and support colleagues as required.

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 Partners Programme
• Annual wellbeing payment
• Competitive remuneration

Diversity and inclusion are important to us and the Law Society is keen to ensure that appointments reflect Aotearoa New Zealands 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.

Shortlisted candidates may be contacted to submit an application form to provide some additional details.

Applications close 5pm Wednesday 19 November 2025

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

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