Auckland, New Zealand law firms and lawyers

The law of New Zealand is heavily based on the English common law and three related principles namely, parliamentary sovereignty, the rule of law and the separation of powers.

The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court in New Zealand.

A New Zealanders lawyer licensed to practise law in New Zealand is called barrister and solicitor. A barrister and solicitor must have a practising certificate issued by the New Zealand Law Society, which regulates all lawyers. However, membership of the Law Society is voluntary.

In New Zealand, a lawyer is admitted to the High Court of New Zealand as barrister and solicitor but is entitled to practise both as barrister and solicitor or solely as barrister.

A barrister accepts instructions only from a solicitor thus members of the public has no direct access to barristers.