Willis Legal is a leading, progressive law firm with two modern offices across Te Matau a Māui/Hawke’s Bay. We’re known for delivering excellent service to a diverse and valued client base, and for building a team where people genuinely enjoy the work they do.
We’re on the lookout for a passionate Family Solicitor to join us in our Napier office (Willis House, Dickens Street).
About the role
Our Family Team is vibrant, busy and one of the largest in Hawke’s Bay. This is a fantastic opportunity for a lawyer who enjoys walking alongside clients through some of life’s trickiest moments, and advocating for them and their tamariki.
You will operate with autonomy in your practice, backed by supervision and support from across the team and firm, plus with the resources you need to keep developing your skills and career.
Your work will include:
Parenting and guardianship matters under the Care of Children Act;
Oranga Tamariki matters;
Protection of Personal and Property Rights (PPPR) matters;
Contracting out agreements; and
Separation and Relationship Property.
We offer our clients Legal Aid, so being a Lead Provider (or working towards it), would be a bonus.
About you
You’re a New Zealand-admitted solicitor with 1–3 years’ PQE and solid New Zealand family law experience. You’re technically capable, detail-focused, and take pride in delivering high-quality work. You’re also kind, empathetic and professional with clients and everyone else involved in a matter.
You enjoy being part of a team, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and communicate clearly and confidently with clients and colleagues alike. Most importantly, you bring a positive, proactive approach and a genuine interest in building your career.
Knowledge of Te Reo Māori and an understanding of tikanga Māori would be an advantage.
This is a full-time role and is based in our Napier office.
About us
Willis Legal is a long-established Hawke’s Bay firm with a strong reputation for excellence, integrity, and forward-thinking. We work on high-quality and often complex matters for a varied client base, and we’re proud of the expertise and care we bring to everything we do.
What really sets us apart is our culture. We combine high professional standards with a genuinely collegial, fun and supportive work environment, where people are encouraged to grow, take ownership of their work, and enjoy what they do.
We invest in modern, cloud-based technology, including Actionstep, NetDocuments, Mitimes, VXT, Claude and Jude AI, which enables our team to work efficiently and flexibly while maintaining exceptional service for our clients.
We are guided by our values: Tūturutanga (Authentic), Whanaungatanga (Team), Mana Tangata (Pride), Whakatupuranga (Growth) and Iho Matua (Mindful)x. Willis Legal is a place where people build lasting careers and feel proud of the work they contribute to.
If this sounds like the right fit for you, learn more about us on our website or through our social channels.
To apply
Please upload your CV, cover letter, and academic transcript. There’s no formal closing date — we’ll be reviewing applications as they come in, so we encourage you to apply early.
For a confidential discussion, contact Alison Donovan, General Manager, at [email protected] or 022 172 2122.