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POSITION DESCRIPTION Tūranga | Position title: Rōia o te Karauna | Crown Counsel
Department: Legal
Reports to: Legal Team Manager
Document Date: 3 June 2021
Te Tari Ture o te Karauna | Crown Law Overview
Crown Law’s purpose is to serve New Zealand by supporting the Government to operate lawfully.
Crown Law’s functions are:
Supporting the Law Officers of the Crown
Leading the government legal profession
Overseeing public prosecutions
Providing legal services to Government
Crown Law provides legal advice and representation services to the Government in matters affecting the executive government. The services Crown Law provides include matters covering judicial review of government actions, constitutional questions including Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi issues, the enforcement of criminal law, and the protection of revenue. Crown Law also administers the prosecution process in the criminal justice system, in particular, Crown prosecutions.
A Tātou Tikanga Mahi | Our Crown Law Values
Crown Law team members strive to demonstrate the following Crown Law Values in our interactions with each other, our clients and in all we do.
We look after the mana of other people
We value our differences
We care about each other
We recognise our impact on others
We take pride in all we do
We strive to incorporate and reflect te reo Māori and tikanga in the workplace. Crown Law is also committed to flexibility and provides a range of flexible working arrangements that allow our team members to work in ways that allow them and the organisation to perform at their best.
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Kōrero Whakataki mō ngā Ratonga Tūmatanui | Public Service Introduction
Mahi tōpū ai ngā Kaimahi Tūmatanui e whai tikanga ai te noho a ngā tāngata o Aotearoa. Hei tā te Public Service Act ko te pūtake o ngā Kaimahi Kāwanatanga, ko te tautoko i te kāwanatanga whai ture me te kāwanatanga manapori; ko te āwhina i te Kāwanatanga o te wā nei me ō anamata ki te whakawhanake, ki te whakatinana hoki i ā rātou kaupapa here; ko te tuku i ngā ratonga tūmatanui e nui ana te kounga, e nahanaha ana anō hoki; ko te tautoko i te Kāwanatanga e tūroa ai te whai oranga o te marea; ko te huawaere i te whai wāhitanga o te kirirarau ki te ao tūmatanui me te whakatutuki i ngā mahi i runga i tā te ture i whakahau ai. E hiranga ana te wāhi ki a mātou ki te tautoko i te Karauna i ana hononga ki ngā iwi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ahakoa he nui ngā momo tūranga mahi, e tapatahi ana ngā kaimahi tūmatanui i roto i te whakaaro nui ki te hāpai i ngā hapori, ka mutu, e arahina ana ā mātou mahi e ngā mātāpono matua me ngā uara o ngā Kaimahi Tūmatanui.
The public service works collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders. The Public Service Act states that the purpose of the public service is to support constitutional and democratic government, enable both the current Government and successive governments to develop and implement their policies, deliver high-quality and efficient public services, support the Government to pursue the long- term public interest, facilitate active citizenship and act in accordance with the law. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi and te Tiriti o Waitangi. Whilst there are many diverse roles, all public servants are unified by a spirit of service to the community, and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.
Mō te Tūranga | About the Role
The role of Crown Counsel is to provide high quality advice and representation to the Crown including Ministers and government departments. Crown Counsel are also involved in providing legal input on whole of government policy initiatives or other policy initiatives.
Ngā Haepapa Matua | Key Responsibilities
The following are key responsibilities for a Crown Counsel, however, some responsibilities may vary between teams.
Legal Services • Conducts litigation and represents clients in tribunals, courts, and alternative dispute resolution
fora. This may include managing files with more junior counsel, or working with Senior Crown Counsel, Deputy Solicitors-General, the Solicitor-General, external counsel on matters.
• Provides and oversees the provision of high-quality input and advice from a legal perspective into whole of government policy development or policy initiatives in areas of expertise.
• Understands the client’s business, the operational context and imperatives in which they work to provide and oversee the provision of high quality and client-focused advice to Ministers and government departments, particularly where that advice is complex or significant.
• Has full responsibility for the financial management of files and complies with Crown Law administration requirements including completing timesheets and billing in a timely manner.
Professional Leadership • Provides professional leadership in counsel’s area(s) of expertise.
• Collaborates and effectively delegates work to more junior counsel and support staff to ensure work is done in a timely manner and at the right level. This includes ensuring appropriate instructions and information is provided and the work is effectively supervised.
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• Assists in building Crown Law’s professional capacity and ongoing development by assisting with the development of other staff including coaching, mentoring and developing junior counsel.
Relationship Management • Develops and maintains strong relationships across Crown Law.
• Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of, and develops and maintains strong relationships with clients, colleagues from other agencies to gain their trust and respect.
• Is an active participant of the Government Legal Network and builds and establishes relationships across the Government Legal Network and other relevant stakeholders.
Health and Safety • Comply with all reasonable instructions regarding wellbeing, health and safety policies and
processes and also the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
• Take reasonable care to ensure that, in the performance of your employment, you do not undermine your own wellbeing, health and safety or that of any other person.
• Work in a safe and responsible manner, ensuring incidents, accidents, hazards or near misses are promptly reported.
General
• Any other reasonable requests by your manager.
Ngā Hononga Matua | Key Working Relationships
Internal • The Solicitor-General
• The Deputy Solicitors-General, the Deputy Chief Executive Strategy and Corporate, and Deputy Chief Executive System Leadership
• The Public Prosecutions Unit (Criminal Group).
• Staff across Crown Law
External • The Attorney-General’s Office
• Members of the Judiciary and their staff
• Justice sector and other government sector agencies relevant to the Team’s work
• The Crown Solicitor Network
• The Government Legal Network
• External counsel
Tohu, Pūkenga me Ngā Wheako | Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Qualifications and experience required • Bachelor of Laws (or equivalent)
• Admission in New Zealand as a barrister and solicitor
• Eligibility to hold a current practicing certificate issued by the New Zealand Law Society
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• Proven experience in providing legal advice and representation to clients
• May be required to obtain and hold a New Zealand Government Top Secret security clearance. Appointment to the role may be subject to obtaining and maintaining appropriate security clearance.
Ōu Āhuatanga Ake | Personal Attributes
Crown Counsel will have:
• Legal Analysis and Advice: Must have excellent legal analysis skills and be able to provide tailored, practical and technically correct advice, working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders.
• Advocacy: Must be able to present conclusions of fact and legal argument clearly and persuasively in court and alternative dispute resolution fora.
• Strategic skills: Must be future orientated and open-minded and have a willingness to contribute to the ongoing development of Crown Law’s strategic direction.
• Understanding of Government: Must have or be able to quickly develop a strong understanding of how the public sector works, including the expectations of Ministers and Chief Executive. Demonstrates (or is able to develop) political nous and navigates diverse, sensitive and complex political situations effectively.
• Collaboration: Can quickly find common ground, taking into account and balancing the interests of other groups, to solve problems. Encourages collaboration.
• Courage: Must be able to be counted on to step up in difficult times and to deliver unwelcome and difficult messages to stakeholders and stand their ground where necessary. Able to anticipate conflicts and seek to resolve them equitably and calmly, escalating issues to senior counsel as appropriate.
• Energy and Drive: Must be determined to maintain momentum and improvement, despite setbacks or resistance. Must be adaptable and open-minded.
• Personal and Interpersonal Skills: Must have highly developed personal and interpersonal skills. Must be able to work constructively with a wide range of people, and effectively gain staff, Ministers’ and other stakeholders’ trust and respect. Must be able to motivate others to do their best.
• Honour and Integrity: Be a role model of Crown Law policies and values including the ‘Crown Law Vaules’. Adhere to the New Zealand Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct at all times and model the Standards within the Office.
Date approved June 2021
Review /Content updated date May 2025 (Updated Zone movement details)
Document owner Human Resources
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Crown Counsel Zone Descriptors
The Crown Counsel zone descriptors below provide general guidance on the factors that are considered when considering zone placement for counsel and can be used to inform individual work and development priorities in performance plans. There will be variances between groups as to the type of work conducted and the emphasis or weight given to the different skills and experience which is required for each group. The level of responsibility and accountability increases as counsel move up to the next zone – as does the complexity and/or the political sensitivity of the matters that counsel become responsible for. There is an acknowledgement that counsel will often be already conducting aspects of work, taking responsibility for matters and conducting themselves in a manner commensurate to counsel at the next level up, however, any movement through the zones will be assessed individually on merit and in accordance with Crown Law’s policy on Crown Counsel zone movements. If any changes to the position description and the zone descriptors become necessary to take account of changes in Crown Law’s operational requirements, these will be discussed with counsel prior to implementation.
Crown Counsel – Zone 1 Crown Counsel – Zone 2 Crown Counsel – Zone 3
All responsibilities of a Crown Counsel, zone 1; plus all or most of the following:
All responsibilities of a Crown Counsel, zones 1 & 2; plus all or most of the following:
Legal Services
Has full responsibility for assigned files and the conduct of litigation, including finalising and signing out advice and submissions with minimum or no supervision.
Manages own matters, escalating issues appropriately to more senior counsel as required.
Provides experienced litigation support to more senior counsel on complex matters and often takes primary responsibility for discrete aspects of the litigation which could include conduct as sole or lead counsel in the High Court or High Court appeals; and for criminal matters, appeals in the Court of Appeal (other than those involving evidence, questions of law, homicide matters, Crown appeals or other difficult issues).
May be lead counsel for general legal advice and legal advice on such things as the development of
Legal Services
Has full responsibility for files across a range of the office’s work, taking files to completion with minimal or no supervision and instruction.
Has full responsibility for the conduct of litigation. For CLR and A-Gs Group, the full range of the Group’s civil cases. For the Criminal Group, conduct as sole or lead counsel for the full range of High Court appeals and all types of appeals in the Court of Appeal (except those involving complex questions of law or having other precedential significance) and non-complex homicide and extradition matters.
Has specialist knowledge and expertise in public/administrative law and/or criminal law. Focuses on the more complicated and important aspects of the office’s work where their experience is required.
Legal Services
Provides strategic advice on and responsible for the full range of advice work across the team/the Office, including advice to Ministers and senior government officials.
Has full responsibility for the conduct of litigation for more difficult and complex files, including cases of national significance and/or reputation/constitutional/fiscal risk; and for the Criminal Group, has responsibility as sole or lead counsel for the full range of Court of Appeal matters (including homicide matters) involving complex questions of law or having other precedential significance.
May appear as lead counsel in the Supreme Court as required.
Has extensive strategic, legal and analytical skills gained through deep and broad experience.
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Crown Counsel – Zone 1 Crown Counsel – Zone 2 Crown Counsel – Zone 3
whole of government policy development or initiatives; and policy and legislative proposals for the relevant government agency or ministry. For criminal matters, this includes providing second opinions on Law Officer matters which are not novel or contentious. Peer review should be conducted by more senior counsel where complexity or risk warrants.
Provides peer review of other counsel’s opinions. Plans and organises self to deliver work
commitments to required timeframes and quality standards while being mindful of the wider impact this may have on the work of others.
Provides and oversees the provision of advice to clients on complex and/or sensitive legal matters with peer review by more senior counsel depending on the complexity of the matter. For criminal matters, this includes providing second opinions on the full range of Law Officer matters.
Manages and delivers on work priorities and is purposeful about where to invest time.
May lead legal and across-office projects. Deliberate in managing time and work priorities to
make the greatest contribution to the delivery of Office’s work.
Professional leadership
Builds broad experience in range of public law areas and may build expertise in specific areas of law such as criminal law.
Communicates clearly with different audiences. Able to persuade others and present clear and convincing rationale for advice and opinion.
Acts decisively when required, even when information is conflicting and incomplete.
Collaborates and effectively delegates work to more junior counsel and acts as a coach or mentor to junior staff, irrespective of whether they are working on the matter in question themselves. Actively participates and contributes to the
Government Legal Network including participation on committees.
Professional Leadership
Provides professional leadership and shares knowledge internally, proactively taking the initiative to upskill others and constructively provides support based on their level of experience.
Demonstrates willingness and ability to lead engagement with the Government Legal Network on specialist Crown Law subject matters.
Communicates with impact and able to persuade and inspire others across the Office.
Makes hard and unpopular decisions when required and takes the lead on contentious issues. Coaches and mentors junior staff to enhance
capabilities required in their roles and supports them to participate in relevant development activities.
Professional Leadership
Thinks strategically and contributes to the ongoing development of Crown Law’s strategic direction.
Demonstrates willingness to actively engage and collaborates with the System Leadership team on matters concerning the Government Legal Network.
Provides professional leadership and proactively mentors and trains others.
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Crown Counsel – Zone 1 Crown Counsel – Zone 2 Crown Counsel – Zone 3
Relationship management
Demonstrates understanding of the ‘Trusted Advisor’ concept, shown through the development and maintenance of strong relationships across the organisation and with clients.
Has significant responsibility for client relationship management and may act as client relationship manager as required under the supervision of Legal Team Manager or senior counsel.
Displays an understanding of how government and the public sector works and has awareness of relevant political sensitivities.
Works collaboratively with others across the Office and interacts effectively with external stakeholders.
Relationship Management
Acts as a Trusted Advisor. Demonstrates political nous and navigates diverse, sensitive and complex political situations effectively.
Acts as Relationship Manager as required. Builds internal relationships by working
collaboratively with others in the organisation and taking an organisation-wide view.
Relationship Management
Acts as and is respected by external colleagues and political representatives as a Trusted Advisor.
Able to challenge legal policies or a client’s approach, as a Trusted Advisor.
Attracts the trust and respect of clients at the highest level.
Takes responsibility for liaising with Ministers and senior officials on matters of strategic importance.