Job Description
Graduate or Solicitor – Employment (0-2yrs PQE)
We are a Christchurch-based law firm and over the past century we have built a reputation for maintaining close and dependable relationships with our clients. With over 70 employees, we are proud of our firm’s culture, values, and vision. We are committed to building high performing teams and providing an environment where staff can grow and feel rewarded for their work.
We have an exciting full-time opportunity for a junior Solicitor or graduate to join our employment practice starting early 2026. In this role, you will be working on a broad range of employment matters for both employers and employees. This is a great career opportunity for someone looking to establish themselves in employment law with excellent mentoring.
Key functions of the role include:
Assist clients with workplace issues, including employee management, raising and responding to personal grievances, restructures and redundancies, privacy, health and safety and human right matters, employment agreements and policies, and obligations to employees on the sale or purchase of a business.
Conduct legal research and analysis to support case strategy and client objectives.
Draft documents, including letters, and correspondence to clients and legal representatives.
Prepare for, and attend, meetings (including disciplinary and performance investigations), mediations and hearings in the Employment Relations Authority.
Stay abreast of changes in legislation, recent case law and legal trends affecting employment law.
Develop and maintain strong client relationships.
Support business development initiatives and attend networking events.
Our ideal candidate:
NZ qualified lawyer with approximately 1-2 years’ legal experience in dispute resolution or employment. Open to applications from graduates if there has been some exposure to working in a law firm or you have a genuine passion for working in employment law.
Exceptional technical mind and ability to analyse legal issues.
Great communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
A strong drive for delivering the best client experience.
Well-organised, time-efficient and process driven.
Able to work as part of a team.
Can manage priorities and deadlines.
Reliable and shows initiative along with a good attention for detail.
Working at Cavell Leitch:
Ongoing training and development opportunities with progression pathways.
You'll be part of a friendly and social team who work collaboratively.
Flexible working practices.
Range of leave benefits (parental, long service, marital, study, lawyers’ day).
Connected culture and supportive wellbeing program.
Typical Recruitment Process:
Our HR team will endeavour to respond to applications within 48 hours of receiving them.
If skills align, we will invite you to an interview with an HR member and/or relevant team leaders. The first interview may be prefaced by an initial phone call to give you more details about the role and your suitability for it. This provides an opportunity for the candidate to discuss their experience and ambitions, ensuring they are a good match.
We may then conduct a second, less formal interview with other members of our team to help you gain insight into our culture and what it is like working at Cavell Leitch.
Our HR team checks in with candidates between each stage to cover off any concerns, revisit expectations and ensure everyone is on the same page. We want to ensure potential candidates feel comfortable and informed throughout the process.
All relevant skills testing, reference-checking and criminal checks will take place.
Lastly, our hiring team will make the decision to offer the role, with this process being facilitated by our HR team.
We then offer a full bespoke induction to all of our successful candidates during their first weeks with us to ensure they can settle in and get to know our team and systems.
If you wish to apply or find out more about this opportunity you can reach Lauren, our Senior HR Advisor on or email [email protected]
Cavell Leitch does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed recruitment fee agreement, Cavell Leitch will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Cavell Leitch explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any solicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Cavell Leitch.
https://www.cavell.co.nz/
We are a Christchurch-based law firm and over the past century we have built a reputation for maintaining close and dependable relationships with our clients. With over 70 employees, we are proud of our firm’s culture, values, and vision. We are committed to building high performing teams and providing an environment where staff can grow and feel rewarded for their work.
We have an exciting full-time opportunity for a junior Solicitor or graduate to join our employment practice starting early 2026. In this role, you will be working on a broad range of employment matters for both employers and employees. This is a great career opportunity for someone looking to establish themselves in employment law with excellent mentoring.
Key functions of the role include:
Assist clients with workplace issues, including employee management, raising and responding to personal grievances, restructures and redundancies, privacy, health and safety and human right matters, employment agreements and policies, and obligations to employees on the sale or purchase of a business.
Conduct legal research and analysis to support case strategy and client objectives.
Draft documents, including letters, and correspondence to clients and legal representatives.
Prepare for, and attend, meetings (including disciplinary and performance investigations), mediations and hearings in the Employment Relations Authority.
Stay abreast of changes in legislation, recent case law and legal trends affecting employment law.
Develop and maintain strong client relationships.
Support business development initiatives and attend networking events.
Our ideal candidate:
NZ qualified lawyer with approximately 1-2 years’ legal experience in dispute resolution or employment. Open to applications from graduates if there has been some exposure to working in a law firm or you have a genuine passion for working in employment law.
Exceptional technical mind and ability to analyse legal issues.
Great communicator with excellent interpersonal skills.
A strong drive for delivering the best client experience.
Well-organised, time-efficient and process driven.
Able to work as part of a team.
Can manage priorities and deadlines.
Reliable and shows initiative along with a good attention for detail.
Working at Cavell Leitch:
Ongoing training and development opportunities with progression pathways.
You'll be part of a friendly and social team who work collaboratively.
Flexible working practices.
Range of leave benefits (parental, long service, marital, study, lawyers’ day).
Connected culture and supportive wellbeing program.
Typical Recruitment Process:
Our HR team will endeavour to respond to applications within 48 hours of receiving them.
If skills align, we will invite you to an interview with an HR member and/or relevant team leaders. The first interview may be prefaced by an initial phone call to give you more details about the role and your suitability for it. This provides an opportunity for the candidate to discuss their experience and ambitions, ensuring they are a good match.
We may then conduct a second, less formal interview with other members of our team to help you gain insight into our culture and what it is like working at Cavell Leitch.
Our HR team checks in with candidates between each stage to cover off any concerns, revisit expectations and ensure everyone is on the same page. We want to ensure potential candidates feel comfortable and informed throughout the process.
All relevant skills testing, reference-checking and criminal checks will take place.
Lastly, our hiring team will make the decision to offer the role, with this process being facilitated by our HR team.
We then offer a full bespoke induction to all of our successful candidates during their first weeks with us to ensure they can settle in and get to know our team and systems.
If you wish to apply or find out more about this opportunity you can reach Lauren, our Senior HR Advisor on or email [email protected]
Cavell Leitch does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed recruitment fee agreement, Cavell Leitch will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Cavell Leitch explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any solicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Cavell Leitch.
https://www.cavell.co.nz/
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Graduate or Solicitor | Employment |0|2yrs PQE position is now open for candidates interested in the Legal Jobs sector. This role in Christchurch offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Legal Jobs is a plus.
