Legal Counsel - Wellington City Council - 2 Vacancies

Kia mahi ngātahi mō Pōneke mō tōna āpōpō Working together for Wellington's future.

We have 2 exciting new vacancies in our legal team:

Legal Counsel - Commercial

Legal Counsel - Regulatory

Our Legal business unit have been on a journey over the last year - we've implemented a revised structure, to ensure we're well-resourced and have a team of well supported, high performing lawyers. In joining our team, you'll be able to take advantage of the amazing work opportunities that arise from the varied, challenging, and complex work we do for Pōneke.

Legal Counsel - Commercial

The Commercial and Property team provide legal advice across the full range of Council's commercial, property and construction work. There are challenging and ongoing projects that need strong and varied legal support such as the Moa Point sludge minimisation facility and strengthening and modernising the central library, Te Mataphi.

This role provides an opportunity to put your commercial law experience to use, working on a diverse range of commercial contracts and in house projects.

You'll have 2-3 years PQE in commercial legal work, with experience advising on, drafting, reviewing, negotiating and managing a range of commercial contracts, including goods and services, ICT contracts, licensing agreements and funding agreements. In house experience would be a bonus but it's not essential - we're keen to see applicants with strong commercial experience from a law firm environment.

Legal Counsel - Regulatory

The Regulatory team supports Council to make robust decisions across the full range of its regulatory function, from operational compliance action through to decision-making by elected members. This role provides an opportunity to contribute to a wide range of Council's activities with a real impact on the city and our communities. As Legal Counsel, you will also manage prosecutions and other low-medium risk litigation for Council.

You'll have 1-3 years PQE, ideally with some exposure to public sector or local government work. You'll have a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach to providing legal advice and have strong statutory interpretation and legal research skills. Non-technical skills including the ability to negotiate timeframes and manage expectations, relationship building, curiosity and the initiative to problem solve while being comfortable to ask for support are just as important. Experience appearing in court will be a significant advantage but is not required.

For both roles, you'll be joining a supportive team where you'll not only have the chance to grow, develop and be mentored but you'll also be able to own and lead work as a valued member of the team. Our team offers the opportunity for flexible working and the potential to work from home once you're up and running in the role.

We are looking to appoint between $94,342 and $110,990 per annum, for these roles, depending on relevant skills and experience.

Working for the Council offers you a range of benefits including 5 weeks annual leave, flexible working options, health and wellbeing support, Council staff discounts and a range of learning and development programmes and opportunities.

Applications close 8 April 2024 and must be submitted online.

All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand and hold or be able to obtain a current NZ practising certificate.

If you want to know more about the role, team or mahi, please contact;

Charlotte Haigh, Manager Legal Services - Commercial and Property,

Karyn Basher, Manager Legal Services - Regulatory,

We want to make sure any accessibility requirements you may have, are well supported so the selection process is equitable for everyone. Please let us know if there are any adjustments or support, we can offer to make our process more accessible to you by emailing

Agency recruiters please note - WCC have a mandate to run our own recruitment process via our internal talent acquisition team's centralised model and we are very focused on partnering internally. We will partner with agencies if required and ask that you not make unsolicited contact.