Legal Counsel

E ngā iwi, e ngā karangatanga huri noa i te motu, tēnei te mihi atu ki a koutou katoa. He īnoi tēnei ki a koe. Tono mai ki tētahi tūnga ki te Kaunihera o Ōtautahi

About the team | Ko te rōpū nei

Our Legal Services team is proud to play a pivotal role in working to make Ōtautahi Christchurch a vibrant, prosperous, and sustainable city. This is a rare opportunity to be part of a busy in-house legal team and at the same time, make a difference to the community. This is a role that you will be able to shape and profile yourself within the organisation.

About the role | Ko te mahi nei

You'll be advising and representing the Council (where appropriate, depending on the level of experience) in relation to Public, Regulatory and Litigation matters arising from legislation associated with, but not limited to, Local Government, Local Government Rating, Building, Health, Dog Control, Food Hygiene, Sale and Supply of Alcohol, Fencing, Drainage, Official Information, Privacy, Transport and Planning (RMA).

As well as this you will provide advice, undertake research and complete opinion work in relation to civil litigation matters relating to breach of contact / or tort, weather tightness claims and general commercial, insurance and construction disputes. as well as general litigation and regulatory advice including in relation to judicial review proceedings, District and High Court proceedings.

About you | Ko Koe Tēnei

• A junior lawyer who has around 1-3 years legal experience
• Minimum of Bachelor of Laws degree
• Holder of a current practising certificate issued by the NZ Law Society
• Admission as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
• If you have specialist legal knowledge of local body governance that would be desirable

You will have the ability to deliver technically robust legal advice and deploy great stakeholder legal skills to assist Council in achieving its strategic and tactical goals and objectives.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to move from private practice into the public sector, or someone with public sector experience looking to further their career.

What's in it for you? He aha ngā hua ki a koe?

Want to be involved in shaping your City? Here at the Council we know our strength comes from our people, working together as one team to create results. When you join us, you're getting involved first hand, and contributing to crafting the Christchurch community. You will also benefit from:

• Access to training programmes, workshops, and development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements - WFH, adjustable start and finish times, option to purchase extra leave.
• Collaboration - exposure to wider areas of the organisation
• Benefits - a variety of benefits for Council staff from health schemes to retail discounts.

If this sounds like an interesting opportunity, you think you have what it takes and want to get involved in shaping our City then please apply today.

Additional Information | Ko ētahi atu kōrero:

At the Christchurch City Council, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways.

We understand that recruitment processes can be challenging. If you require any support or adjustments to help you put your best foot forward, please reach out to us at

• Hours of work - full time
• Position - Permanent
• Location - This position is primarily based at Te Hononga, Christchurch City Council Civic Offices - 53 Hereford Street
• Salary - The salary band for this position goes from $88,003 p.a. to $97,781 per annum based on a 40 hour week. Starting salaries will be based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, and relativities both, within the immediate team and in the broader organisation for the same or similar roles.
• Closing Date - 30th October 2025

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the close date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad before the advertised close date.