Opportunities for corporate/government lawyers are good. The number of barristers and solicitors (which includes corporate/government lawyers) increased by 18% between 2001 and 2006.

Number of barristers and solicitors in New Zealand
(1996, 2001, 2006)

Census	Number of barristers and solicitors
1996	6,621
2001	7,671
2006	9,084
Source: Department of Labour, Jobs and Tertiary Education Indicator Tool.

Corporate lawyers change focus but still have plenty of work

The growth in barristers and solicitors after 2001 was largely due to a property boom. This created greater demand for corporate lawyers to do property work such as conveyancing (writing documents transferring property ownership from one person to another).

Due to the economic downturn, corporate lawyers are focusing more on insolvency (failure to pay debts because of bankruptcy) and litigation work in particular. During a recession people are more likely to take people to court if they fail to settle their debts.  

Government lawyers busy with Treaty settlements

In May, 2009 the Government announced that it aims to settle all historical Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2014. In the 2009 Budget, It set aside an extra $22.4 million over four years to achieve this goal.. As a result, opportunities for government lawyers based in Wellington are increasing. 

Corporate lawyers work for large private companies in areas such as:

• finance
• agriculture
• building
• power/energy
• communications.

Government lawyers work for government departments such as the Inland Revenue Department and the Ministry of Economic Development.

Most government lawyers work in Wellington, where parliament is located.

Most corporate lawyers work in the main centres, where demand is greater due to population.

Significant areas of employment for legal services (including corporate/government lawyers) are:

• Auckland (30.6% of corporate/government lawyers)
• Wellington (12.3%)
• Christchurch (10.2%)
• Hamilton (3.8%).

Since the economic downturn of 2008, some South Island corporate law firms have experienced an increase in work. The annual survey of the New Zealand legal profession, The Business of Law, said that as businesses try to cut costs, some are choosing to move away from more expensive Auckland or Wellington-based legal firms.