2017 Hot List Recipient

2020 Hot List Recipient

2021 CEO of the Year

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Milestones

2001

2011

2015

2017

2021

Begins working with the Waitangi Tribunal, where she remains until 2004.

2001

Becomes co-founding chair of the Auckland Community Law Centre.

2011

Co-founding chair of Women in Restructuring and Insolvency.

2015

Recognised as Emerging Leader at the Women on Boards Awards.

2017

Joins the board of the New Zealand Law Society as Vice President (Auckland).

2020

Elected the 32nd president of the New Zealand Law Society.

2021

Representation on the rise

Jacque Lethbridge has been making history throughout her career. The litigation star battled through a difficult background to achieve her childhood dream of entering the legal profession, and despite the challenges of balancing motherhood with work, she racked up first after first in law firms as a private practitioner, becoming an example of what a woman and working parent can achieve in the field of law. Ultimately, Lethbridge’s objective has been to enact wide-reaching change across New Zealand’s legal profession, and with her election as the 32nd president of the New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa, she is getting the opportunity to do just that. She takes the reins this month with a game plan centred on three key areas of focus: regulation, relevance and recognition. This translates to making sure that the recently commissioned Independent Review of the Law Society’s structure is conducted in a timely manner and meaningful consultation is sought across the

industry, Lethbridge says. The review continues a process that began in the past three years, and seeks to determine best governance practices as well as examine the organisation’s role as a representative body. Lethbridge’s leadership plan also includes maintaining engagement with members, collaborating with various member groups and promoting the Law Society’s “active voice in shaping law”. To this end, she points to the contributions of the organisation in the drafting and implementation of new legislation in New Zealand, notably as COVID-19 drove the development of many new bills to handle unprecedented issues. “A little-known aspect of the Law Society’s role is that we must serve the people of Aotearoa New Zealand by regulating the profession and delivering New Zealanders excellent lawyers. We must also be a strong and independent voice for the rule of law,” Lethbridge explains. “Seen together, these are vital mainstays of a liberal democracy. How we do this is not always popular – but it’s always necessary.” In the present environment of uncertainty as a result of the pandemic and international tensions, improving access to justice by bolstering legal aid is another crucial focal point for Lethbridge. She notes that COVID-19 has actually contributed to this initiative by facilitating a stronger link between the Law Society and its stakeholders throughout the justice sector. “These relationships can now be galvanised and consolidated. I plan to build on new connections with the Judiciary and Ministry of Justice, advocating for swifter resolution of delays in access to justice,” she says. COVID-19 also spurred the swift adaptation of the legal profession to working arrangements that could help break the glass ceiling for women looking to enter the industry. Lethbridge believes that the adoption of technology at all levels and in the courts has been the pandemic’s greatest gift to the profession. “The profession pivoted and innovated, with lasting impact. Suddenly, working from home is not something few do on ‘flexible arrangements’ but a method of hybrid working. As a working parent, I hope this can help address barriers facing women in the law, so they can have children and still grow careers,” Lethbridge says.

The need to support lawyers is something the new Law Society President is concentrating on as well, given that many practitioners operated on little rest at the height of COVID-19 and were burdened with burnout in the process. “I have concerns for the wellbeing of a weary profession and will focus on support for them, better enabling them to address heavy backlogs,” Lethbridge says. While on her campaign for the role of Law Society President, Lethbridge saw the desire of lawyers for connection, unity of purpose and enjoyment of what they do. Thus, she considers the Law Society’s connection to groups like New Zealand Asian Lawyers, the Pacific Lawyers Association and Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa to be critical. As she steps up to the helm of the Law Society, she does so in an increasingly diverse population of lawyers. Young practitioners are coming in from Asian, Pasifika and Māori backgrounds with “their own energetic voice” to urge change in the status quo, she points out. A total of 9.9% of new lawyers identify as Māori, while 10% of practitioners identify as Asian.

“The ethnic face of the legal profession is changing. Different ethnicities also have specialised representation. The proportion of lawyers is moving closer to the percentage of Aotearoa’s population [the profession] seeks to serve,” Lethbridge says. Nonetheless, while she believes that “the dial is shifting to a more diverse profession”, she still sees gaps in representation when it comes to leadership. “We cannot ignore issues regarding insufficient females and lawyers from diverse backgrounds attaining partnership or senior ranks of the bar,” she points out. “There is a great deal of work still to be done.” The influx of young lawyers joining the profession has been a big driver of progress. As of last month, 23% of New Zealand’s lawyers have been identified as having less than five years’ PQE. Women also comprise 65% of lawyers with five years’ PQE or less, up from 62% in 2015. To further encourage young people to go into the law, Lethbridge aims to address the pipeline concerns in high schools, extending the Law Society’s reach to universities and schools. Nonetheless, Lethbridge acknowledges that “the trend line is there” when it comes to diversity and representation in the profession, and that her responsibility is to “help it along”. The initiatives of the Law Society are “beacons of freedom sitting in the background of New Zealand’s social fabric”, she says. “They help ensure the will of New Zealanders is always to the fore in politics and administration."

Spotlight

The New Zealand Law Society I Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa is the national independent, regulatory and professional membership body for lawyers in New Zealand. The Law Society plays an important role in upholding the law and administration of justice in Aotearoa New Zealand. It gives voice to the legal profession, serves as kaitiaki (guardians) of the rule of law, and protects the public good by regulating lawyers and leading excellence in the profession.

Company Profile

Number of Law Society branches in New Zealand

700

Number of volunteer lawyers operating committees

Number of law reform committees

Number of regulatory standards committees

1,280+

Number of complaints closed per year

Bio

Spotlight

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Years in the industry

Tenure at current position

2017 - Present

FAVOURITE QUOTE

“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Jacque Lethbridge

President of the New Zealand Law Society

Incumbent New Zealand Law Society president Jacque Lethbridge talks to NZ Lawyer about the energetic voice of young lawyers and the changing ethnic face of law

Read on

“We must serve the people of Aotearoa New Zealand by regulating the profession and delivering New Zealanders excellent lawyers. We must also be a strong and independent voice for the rule of law”

Jacque Lethbridge, New Zealand Law Society

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First female Partner in two law firms

2020

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