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In-house lawyers now make up one-quarter of NZ legal profession
New figures from the New Zealand Law Society show that corporate counsel now account for 24 per cent of the nation’s legal profession.
Jerome Doraisamy
Data compiled by the Society, for its monthly publication LawTalk, shows there are 3,206 lawyers working in an in-house capacity, making up almost one-quarter of the 13,530 practising lawyers based in New Zealand.
The findings from both NZ and Britain are consistent with reports from Australia, following a report from recruitment firm Hays showing that Australian companies are set to reduce rates of outsourcing of legal work, as well as a need for relevant industry experience, there will be a need for more legal counsel in the coming year.
In-house legal activity is growing steadily across Australia, Hays said, as companies cut down on outsourcing their legal function.
Ms Wingate noted, in conjunction with the NZ Law Society, that the growing percentage of in-house lawyers across jurisdictions reflects the “desire of many lawyers to be strategic business partners” who can gain experience across a variety of skill sets.
Opportunity, she argued, was among the main reasons that lawyers enjoy in-house work.
“The diversity of work or the chance to roll their sleeves up and help their organisation thrive by working in, around and with business and commercial teams on a daily basis,” she said.
“There are also many opportunities to move into non-legal roles if desired. Put simply, it is viewed by many in-house lawyers as offering a broader and more fulfilling career than the traditional private practice model.”
Interested in the issues shaping the in-house legal landscape? Don’t miss your chance to hear from local and global in-house legal powerhouses at the 2019 Corporate Counsel Summit!
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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