Senior Solicitor at Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Senior Solicitor

Wellington-based | Permanent, Full-time role 

About The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | Te Tari o te Pirimia me te Rūnanga Kāwanatanga

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) occupy a unique space within the heart of government supporting the government of the day by leading, advising, stewarding, and delivering activities across the public sector, and by providing dedicated advice and support to the Governor-General, Prime Minister, and portfolio Ministers. 

Working at DPMC means being at the centre of some of the most significant and impactful work in Aotearoa New Zealand. This role presents an opportunity to lead and contribute to the security and well-being of New Zealanders, working with smart and motivated people in an environment that values collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

You will be part of a high-performing organisation that prioritises professional development and a small collegial team that works with all areas of the Department. 

About the Role | Mō te Tūranga

The legal team within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is a small, high-functioning team providing advice on a wide range of complex and often high-profile issues, including policy and machinery of government issues, legislative reform, inquiries, and general corporate matters. While we provide general corporate and public law advice to the wider department, our major workstreams come from the National Security and Resilience Group within DPMC, and their relevant portfolio areas.

As a Senior Solicitor you will work closely with the rest of the team to provide high-quality, solutions-focused advice to our senior leadership and staff. You will need to be comfortable offering pragmatic advice, often in grey areas of the law, to ensure decision makers are making informed decisions. 

Due to the security requirements of this role, applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand Permanent Resident - you must be eligible to obtain an appropriate security clearance.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advising on legislation administered by the department, or frequently used by the department
• Advising on national security and resilience policy areas and other initiatives to ensure effective and proactive management of nationally significant risks and crises
• Contributing to the responsibilities of the team relating to privacy, delegations, contracts and procurement and other legal support for the department’s corporate processes.

The role enables the opportunity to work closely with our Executive Leadership Team - a great opportunity for a person wanting to take the next step in their career.

About you

We are looking for someone who is:

• Experienced (5+ years PQE), or has a keen interest, in national security, National Risk and Resilience Frameworks and strategic crisis management matters
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment while conveying complex issues succinctly and pragmatically.
• Curious to learn about our work and the context in which we operate. 

To be successful in this role, you will bring a proven ability to deliver accurate, high-quality legal advice that influences outcomes and builds trust. You will be a natural relationship builder and a trusted advisor to our senior leadership team, staff, and key stakeholders. 

You will have solid experience practicing law in government, in particular supporting good decision-making. However, we also value relevant private practice experience. You will have strong technical skills in legal analysis and statutory interpretation, good problem-solving skills, be able to think on your feet in often grey areas of the law, and a well-developed risk radar to navigate complex issues. Even if you do not have experience that covers all aspects of the role, we know the right person can learn these things on the job.

To give you a sense of the role, our Senior Solicitors have been the lead legal advisor on legislation reform proposals, managed the departments responses to Government Inquiries, as well as providing advice to support policy initiatives to help strengthen New Zealand's ability to anticipate, manage and respond to emergency threats, crises and other challenges, amongst a range of other work. 

The role will provide opportunities to extend yourself, thrive, applying your expertise in new and challenging contexts, all within a supportive and collaborative environment.

How to Apply - Me Pēhea te Tono Mai

A full job description is available below. If this role is of interest, please click 'Apply now' and submit your tailored Cover Letter and CV. All applications must be made online.

In your cover letter we would like to know:

• about you, your values, your whakapapa
• explain your interests and motivations for this role
• describe your legal skills and personal attributes you will bring to the team and DPMC
  
  

The closing date for this role is 9pm, Monday 18 May 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, you can contact Annabel.Ritchie@dpmc.govt.nz, mark.scott@dpmc.govt.nz

DPMC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Applicants from all backgrounds are warmly encouraged to apply. 

Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain the legal right to work in New Zealand.

Prior to DPMC confirming any offer of employment, pre-employment checks will be undertaken including criminal conviction history and reference checking as a minimum.