Legal Counsel

Job Description:

Te Tari o te Tumu Whakarae | Vice-Chancellor’s Office
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• Continuing (permanent) position
• Generous leave provisions of five weeks annual leave and another five days’ special leave as University Holidays (six weeks total)
• Eligibility to join the University’s superannuation scheme (UniSaver) in addition to KiwiSaver (up to 6.75% employer contribution)
• Professional development opportunities, including study opportunities in accordance with the University’s Staff Tertiary Study Assistance Policy and Procedures

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā! He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Kaiwawao? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do
An immediate opening for a full-time Legal Counsel in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor has arisen, to assist with providing commercial legal advice. You will be a key team member of UC Legal, in the commercial team, reporting to the Senior Legal Counsel (Commercial).

Mōu | Who You Are
You will have a LLB Bachelor’s Degree, a current practising certificate issued by NZLS, and 5 – 7 years PQE in a broad range of commercial legal issues. In addition, you will be:

• a perceptive and proactive person who can provide timely advice across a full range of commercial and contractual matters
• excellent at relationship building with the ability to find pragmatic solutions to a variety of technical problems
• able to manage competing priorities and a significant and diverse work load
• able to work independently with limited direct supervision
• outstanding at writing and have excellent analytical and communication skills as well as strong judgment

Applicants who have a proven record of providing the highest quality client service, and want to work in a high-performing legal team that advises a complex, large state sector organisation across a variety of portfolios should apply today. Commercial roles of this breadth do not come up in Christchurch often!

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With
The UC Legal Services team is part of Te Tari o te Pouroki | Office of the General Counsel and Registrar. UC Legal Services provides independent legal advice to UC, guiding and assisting good decision-making by the University Council, the Vice-Chancellor, the Senior Leadership Team, Senior Managers and University staff on legal, strategic, commercial and risk management issues in order to assist the University in achieving its strategic goals and objectives.

For more information about us, please visit our website here.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC
Ngā Uara | Our Values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga guide our decisions and behaviour and provide a roadmap for how we do things at UC, affirming our commitment to pastoral care and support for our ākonga and staff. They challenge and inspire us to be the best we can, and make UC a great place to work and study. For more info on Ngā Uara | Our Values visit us here.

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

We offer a range of fantastic benefits including flexible work practices, study opportunities and generous superannuation and leave provisions.

What we offer
The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Generous annual leave provisions (five weeks annual leave and another five days’ special leave as University Holidays (six weeks total))
• Eligibility to join the University’s superannuation scheme (UniSaver) in addition to KiwiSaver (up to 6.75% employer contribution in addition to the salary offered)
• Access to an on-site Recreation Centre at discounted rates, with the new Takarua Wellness Hub expected to be completed in 2027
• Professional development and study opportunities in accordance with the University’s Staff Tertiary Study Assistance Policy and Procedures
• Living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand and a beautiful University campus with multiple on-site cafes and eateries
• A unique working environment with access to UC facilities such as the University Staff Club at discounted rates

For more information on our Benefits, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/joinus/benefits/

For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/

The closing date for this position is: 30 September 2026 (midnight, NZ time)
Please note, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews will take place the close date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted via our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume.

Please note, we do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to [email protected]

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency to be considered for this role.

Please note, this is an onsite position.