Job Description
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
- 12-month fixed-term or secondment starting in September 2025
- Work in our awesome team and build on your existing policy to law experience with great opportunities to stretch yourself with interesting work in a large operational agency
- Based in our National Office in Wellington but remote workers will be considered
Mō te tūnga | About the role
You will be working in the Advice & Legislation Team, which is one of five teams that make up the Department's Legal Services Unit. The work is interesting and diverse. You will have the opportunity to work on issues such as prisoners' rights, the delivery of health services, strategic criminal justice projects, and the policy to law process. The work has a direct impact on the lives of people in Aotearoa and is often high-profile.
We are committed to supporting the Department's implementation of its transformational strategy, Hōkai Rangi, and are motivated to build our individual and collective cultural capability.
We are a high-performing team made up of lawyers with a heap of experience within and outside the Department. We are kind, supportive, and generous with our time and expertise.
This Senior Solicitor role is suited to solicitors with approximately 6 years or more post-admission experience.
Mōu | About you
We are looking for someone who consistently provides high quality, operationally minded, and fit for purpose legal advice in a timely and customer-focused way.
You will ideally have experience of the policy to law process, including working closely with policy colleagues and the Parliamentary Counsel Office to turn policy into legislation.
If you are interested in our work, enjoy working as part of a team, and have great skills, we would really like to hear from you!
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
We will be looking for the following skills, knowledge and abilities outlined in your application:
- Experience of the policy to law process, including drafting instructions to the Parliamentary Counsel Office, attending Select Committees, and supporting Ministers in the House.
- Thoroughness, accuracy, and reliability in the provision of public law advice and/or matters of criminal procedure.
- Familiarity with the Treaty of Waitangi/te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application to the work of government agencies.
Utu ā-tau | Salary
The midpoint of the salary range is $124,758 per annum and the full range (85%-120%) is $106,045 - $149,710 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.
Mō mātou | About us
Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.
We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.
Tono ināianei | Apply Now
To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.
When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.
Applications close on: Tuesday 15 July 2025, 11pm NZST.
If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact sarah.zagarelos@corrections.govt.nz, or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.