Lay Member for Lawyers Standards Committee

About the Law Society

The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa Law Society regulates all lawyers practising in New Zealand and is the membership organisation for practising lawyers. With 13 branch offices throughout the country the Law Society is the Kaitiaki (guardian) of the practise of law in Aotearoa New Zealand and the consumers of legal services.

The New Zealand Law Society is committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion and to recognising the bicultural foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand. We wish to ensure Standards Committees represent the society the legal profession serves and encourage applications from a diverse range of backgrounds.

About the role

Lawyers Standards Committees consider conduct complaints and reports about lawyers and law firm employees and direct the associated investigation and independent decision making for appropriate disciplinary outcomes. Each Standards Committee includes at least one lay (non-lawyer) member to ensure that the public is represented in all decision making.

We are looking to appoint in a voluntary capacity a lay member for Wellington Standards Committee 1. The Standards Committee considers complaints covering the full range of areas of legal practice.

You do not need to have any pre-existing expertise or knowledge of the law but must be of good character and possess the necessary skill experience and judgement to effectively contribute to the consideration of complaints. Experience in any similar role or governance work would be an advantage although not essential. Standards Committee members work collaboratively and are supported by dedicated staff in the Lawyers Complaints Service.

If successful you will be expected to attend a monthly meeting. Meetings are usually held by Microsoft Teams with occasional in person meetings at our Wellington office. Lay members are expected to attend regular monthly meetings and undertake required reading and preparation in advance. This is a voluntary role although there is a payment of $200 per meeting to all lay members. Any travel expenses are reimbursed for any in-person meeting attendance.

To be eligible for this role you must not at any time been admitted to the Roll of Barristers and Solicitors in New Zealand (or equivalent).

Please contact Duff Voigt by email at to obtain the position description and expression of interest form.

To apply please complete the expression of interest form and submit this together with your current CV to stating Lay Member Application in the subject line.

Closing date for this role is 5pm Thursday 12 February 2026