In New Zealand, lawyers are admitted as barristers and solicitors, and some practise on their own account as barristers sole. Pay varies widely: Tahatū Career Navigator gives $63,000 as the lower figure for lawyers, $85,000 to $215,000 as the most common range and $383,000 as the upper figure.
Tahatū Career Navigator gives lawyers' pay as $85,000 to $215,000 for most, with $63,000 at the lower end and $383,000 at the upper end. Legal executives most commonly earn $64,000 to $93,000.
Legal Salary Ranges in NZ
| Role | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer (also called solicitor or barrister) | $85,000–$215,000 | Most common range per Tahatū Career Navigator; lower $63,000, upper $383,000 |
| Legal Executive | $64,000–$93,000 | Most common range per Tahatū Career Navigator (lower $53,000, upper $112,000); non-lawyer support role |
NZ Law Society Registration
Practising as a lawyer in NZ requires admission to the bar and a current practising certificate from the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS). Key steps:
- LLB or LLB(Hons) from a NZ law school, or an overseas qualification assessed by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education
- Professional Legal Studies (PLS) course (practical training; one provider’s course runs 13 weeks full-time or 18 weeks part-time)
- Application for admission to the Roll of barristers and solicitors of the High Court
- Annual practising certificate renewal (fees apply)
Overseas-qualified lawyers have their qualifications assessed by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE), which can require extra study or training before admission.
Barristers in NZ
Unlike many jurisdictions, NZ has both barristers sole (who cannot receive or hold money for another person and typically focus on court advocacy) and solicitors (who handle transactional and advisory work). Some practitioners are “barristers and solicitors”, admitted in both capacities.
Barristers typically work on a self-employed basis, taking briefs from solicitors. Income varies widely:
- Tahatū Career Navigator lists barrister as another name for lawyer, with $85,000 to $215,000 as the most common pay range ($63,000 lower, $383,000 upper)
The NZ Legal Market
The New Zealand Law Society’s provisional figures show 18,018 lawyers as at 30 June 2026: 15,868 barristers and solicitors and 2,150 barristers, with a further 1,477 practising overseas.