Crown Law Opportunities – Fixed Term, Permanent, Secondment – 5 Years PQE

Te Tari Ture o te Karauna | Crown Law Office
Rōia o te Karauna | Crown Counsel, Criminal Group 

Mō mātou | About us

Crown Law’s purpose is to serve New Zealand by supporting the Government to operate lawfully. 

Crown Law’s functions are:

• Supporting the Law Officers of the Crown

• Leading the government legal profession

• Overseeing public prosecutions

• Providing legal services to Government

Crown Law provides legal advice and representation services to the Government in matters affecting the executive government. The services Crown Law provides include matters covering judicial review of government actions, constitutional questions including Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi issues, the enforcement of criminal law, and the protection of revenue. Crown Law also administers the prosecution process in the criminal justice system, in particular, Crown prosecutions.

We strive to incorporate and reflect te reo Māori and tikanga in the workplace. Crown Law is also committed to flexibility and provides a range of flexible working arrangements that allow our team members to work in ways that allow them and the organisation to perform at their best.

Mō te Tūranga | About the Role

We are currently looking for Crown Counsel (ideally with 5+ years post-qualification experience) to join our Criminal Group. We have fixed term/secondment and permanent opportunities available. These are unique positions, involving representation of the Crown in relation to criminal matters. Our mahi includes the conduct of criminal appeals in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court; acting on behalf of the Attorney-General as New Zealand’s central authority for international mutual legal assistance in criminal matters; representing the Crown in relation to extradition requests to and from other countries; and advising the Solicitor-General and Deputy Solicitor-General (Criminal) on the exercise of their constitutional responsibilities in relation to prosecutions, including whether to pursue Crown appeals on matters of significant legal importance or public interest.

You will have the opportunity to work with talented senior counsel, and to coach and mentor junior counsel within the team. The nature of this role requires significant experience practising within the criminal jurisdiction. An interest in international criminal law would also be advantageous.

You will be joining an organisation that values diversity and prides itself on creating opportunities for our team to grow. We take pride in all we do, value our differences, look after the mana of other people, recognise our impact on others and care about each other. Having knowledge and understanding of te reo and tikanga Māori is recognised and valued within the organisation.

The following opportunities are available (please indicate any preference in your cover letter):

– 1x permanent Crown Counsel position based in either Auckland or Wellington

– 2x Fixed term/secondment Crown Counsel positions until August/October 2026 in Wellington or Auckland

For more information on the role, please refer to the attached position description.

Location: Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Tāmaki Makaurau |Wellington/Auckland

These roles are either Wellington based and located near the Wellington bus and train station, or Auckland based and located on Lower Albert Street next to Commercial Bay and the Viaduct. We are a flexible organisation, so we’d be happy to chat about what flexible working would look like for you and how we can support that.

Remuneration and Benefits

The starting salary range for this role is $114,585-$187,839. We have several positions, and the appointing salary will be based on the level of skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role.

In addition, you will also receive additional benefits such as 5 weeks annual leave plus 3 additional leave days (Crown Law days) and opportunities for development and growth across Crown Law.

Tēnā tonoa mai | Apply Now

All applications should include a covering letter, curriculum vitae and academic transcript. 

To be considered for a position at Crown Law you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand and are required to complete a Ministry of Justice Criminal Records check. 

Access requirements and/or whānau support will be taken into account when arranging interviews.

If you have any additional questions about this role or would like to kōrero prior to applying, or if you have a disability that affects the submission of your application through the online process, please email HR@crownlaw.govt.nz.

Applications close at 5pm on 10 August 2025

For a copy of the Job Description visit Crown-Counsel-PD-2025.pdf