Senior Legal Counsel

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

Te Kaunihera o Tāmāki Makaurau/Auckland Council has an opportunity for two permanent full-time Senior Legal Counsel to join its Regulatory & Enforcement team, reporting to the Associate General Counsel – Regulatory & Enforcement in Ngā Ratonga Ture/Legal Services. 

This is a critical role for providing sound and technically robust legal services. You will lead by example and champion best-practice regulatory & enforcement litigation.

The Regulatory & Enforcement team comprises 15 lawyers, prosecutors and legal executives. You will receive mentoring and support from our close-knit team which includes leading practitioners in local government regulatory and enforcement law.

As a Senior Legal Counsel you will:

• Represent Auckland Council in various courts, tribunals and other hearings on regulatory matters
• Abide by the Code of Ethics of the New Zealand Law Society
• Support the delivery of Council priorities while mitigating legal and reputation risk
• Provide robust and pragmatic regulatory legal advice
• Develop strong relationships with internal clients and be a trusted legal advisor

He kōrero mōu: About you

We are looking for a well-established senior lawyer with 5-9 years PQE experience in the regulatory & enforcement space. You will have a track record of understanding court rules and processes.

You will likely have experience in large, complex and potentially political organisations. We are looking for someone who can grow and maintain strong relationships with internal client and external stakeholders.

In equal measure, we are looking for someone with strong decision-making skills and the ability to consider legal issues and strategy in the wider Council context.

This role requires:

• Tertiary Qualification in law and a current NZ practising certificate
• Evidence of high-quality legal work, including technical drafting, legal analysis, written & oral communication
• Specialised knowledge of regulatory regimes including the RMA and Building Act, regulatory litigation and civil enforcement 

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

Legal Services is an in-house team of 50+ lawyers in five teams (Property, Commercial, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Regulatory & Enforcement, and Public Law). We empower Auckland Council to do the right thing, the right way, for an Auckland we can all be proud of.

Auckland Council is the largest local government council across Oceania, serving over 1.7 million people and contributing towards making Tāmaki Makaurau a world-class city.

 
We offer a range of employee benefits and proudly support flexible working options where possible.

We have a fantastic, inclusive working environment, which is collaborative, fun, safe and results-driven. There is lots of support, and flexible working is standard (many of our team regularly work from home two days a week). 

We are proud to be recognised for our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are accredited by GenderTick, a signatory of the Pride Pledge. These commitments reflect our ongoing efforts to create a workplace where all staff feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. 

Please call Christian Brown, Associate General Counsel on 021 913 952 if you want to discuss the role before applying.

Me Tono Ināianei!: Apply Now!
Applications close: 30 September 2025

Click here to view a copy of the Position Description. 

Our employer Kiwisaver contribution is additional to base salary offered.

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer. We serve the diverse communities of Tāmaki Makaurau and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds - regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, educational background, or religious beliefs. We also welcome applications from our Rainbow communities as well as disabled and neurodivergent people. We are committed to making our hiring process accessible to everyone. If you require any support or adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.