Best Law Firms in New Zealand
We assessed 470 law firms in New Zealand and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 3,278 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 5 October 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Whether you need a solicitor for a one-off matter or a law firm you can go back to, legal costs can escalate quickly if a matter is more complex than expected. Ask for a written fee estimate upfront, clarify how the firm charges (hourly rate, fixed fee, or hybrid), and confirm which lawyer will handle your matter day-to-day rather than just the partner who takes your first call.
Top 5 Law Firms in New Zealand
The top 5 law firms in New Zealand are #1 Saunders & Co, #2 Jury Law, #3 Bagsic Law, #4 NZ Legal, and #5 Gateway Lawyers, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you instruct.
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1
Saunders & Co Lawyers
★ 4.9 558 reviews Top5 Score 1885★ 525 4★ 14 3★ 5 2★ 2 1★ 12Saunders & Co moves clients through visa applications, residency applications, and student visa cases, with Jen, Vanessa, Cameron, and Riz each taking personal responsibility for guiding clients from documentation through to approval. On complicated cases where other avenues have narrowed, they absorb the pressure of tight timelines and keep clients informed at each stage rather than leaving them to piece it together.
location_on 131 Victoria Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch
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2
Jury Law
★ 4.8 365 reviews Top5 Score 1835★ 328 4★ 23 3★ 2 2★ 2 1★ 10Jury Law gets first-home buyers, repeat purchasers, and property sellers through conveyancing, refinancing, and auction purchases, with named team members like Lu'isa, Hanna, Tiffany, Sabehah, and Sanjana each keeping clients informed and explaining requirements in plain terms from start to settlement. A standout offer is free initial contract reviews across multiple properties before auction, something buyers report most other firms charge for.
location_on Ste 6 Floor/1/72 Dominion Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
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3
Bagsic Law
★ 4.9 630 reviews Top5 Score 1825★ 617 4★ 5 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 6Bagsic Law wins approval on work visas, partner visas, resident visas, and dependent visas, with Atty. Gene and the team walking clients through every document requirement and timeline from day one. Clients consistently receive proactive updates throughout the process, and multiple families report reaching residency approval without ever feeling left to figure things out on their own.
location_on 27/16 Lambie Drive, Papatoetoe, Auckland
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4
NZ Legal
★ 5.0 226 reviews Top5 Score 1815★ 224 4★ 2NZ Legal carries first-home buyers, overseas investors, and repeat clients through property purchases, loan refinancing, and trust and investment property restructuring, with named team members like Polina, Ruby, and Corina each guiding clients from first contact through to settlement. When situations get complicated, such as cross-border ownership structures or last-minute settlement changes, they absorb the pressure and keep clients informed rather than leaving them to figure it out.
location_on Level 4/1 Kenwyn Street, Parnell, Auckland
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5
Gateway Lawyers NZ
★ 4.9 335 reviews Top5 Score 1815★ 324 4★ 5 1★ 6Gateway Lawyers guides first-home buyers, repeat purchasers, and property sellers through conveyancing, settlement, and refinancing, with named team members like Sim, Rani, Shayne, and Param each taking personal responsibility for keeping clients informed at every stage. Reviewers point to specific moments like Sim negotiating a pre-settlement inspection over vendor pushback as evidence of the team actively protecting client interests rather than just processing paperwork.
location_on 2 Bishop Dunn Place, Flat Bush, Auckland
Before you instruct a law firm in New Zealand
Drawn from 200 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What do lawyers typically charge? expand_more
Junior solicitors at smaller firms charge between $150 and $250 per hour, while experienced partners at large Auckland or Wellington firms commonly charge $400 to $600 per hour or more. Fixed fees are widely available for standard matters like conveyancing, wills, and refinancing, and several firms in these reviews explicitly offer fixed-price conveyancing with no surprise costs at settlement.
Disbursements, which are third-party costs like Land Information New Zealand fees and title searches, are charged on top of legal fees regardless of whether you are on a fixed or hourly arrangement. Under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, your lawyer must give you clear fee information before or at the start of engagement, so if a firm cannot give you at least a fee estimate upfront, that is a red flag worth taking seriously.
How do I know if a law firm actually specialises in what I need? expand_more
Check the firm's published practice areas on their website and look for whether immigration, conveyancing, or employment law is listed as a primary focus rather than one item in a long general list. Ask directly how many matters of this specific type the firm handles each month, since a firm doing dozens of visa applications or property settlements will have sharper process knowledge than one doing a handful.
Membership of specialist bodies matters too: for immigration work, check whether the lawyer holds an immigration adviser licence or is a member of the Immigration Advisers Authority register, and for property law look for membership relevant to the New Zealand Law Society's specialist accreditation scheme. One review in this set illustrates the risk of using a generalist for specialist work, where a client had to correct their own lawyer on a legislative change to remote witnessing of statutory declarations.
Who will actually handle my matter: a senior lawyer or a junior? expand_more
In larger firms, a senior lawyer often leads the relationship but delegates day-to-day work to junior solicitors or legal clerks, which can affect both the quality of advice and the hourly rate you are charged for each task. Reviews here show that the best experiences came when a named senior lawyer remained actively involved throughout, not just at the start and end of the matter. Before signing any engagement letter, ask specifically who will be doing the drafting, who will be reviewing it, and who you should contact when a decision needs to be made quickly.
What are the warning signs of a law firm you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –A lawyer who cannot tell you offhand which property or matter you are calling about is not keeping adequate records of your file.
- –Fees that only become clear after the work is done, with no upfront estimate or scope of charges explained, expose you to billing surprises.
- –Poor follow-through on basic client instructions, such as repeatedly failing to copy a client's nominated contact on emails despite being asked, signals an organisational problem that will compound under pressure.
- –A lawyer who lacks confidence or becomes indecisive when a complication arises, such as failing to challenge an overpayment even after it is clearly flagged, will cost you money and time.
- –Slow or absent responses to calls and emails, particularly at critical moments like approaching settlement or a visa deadline, are a serious operational warning sign.
- –Settlements completed but funds held or released weeks late, without a clear explanation, suggests poor process management and should prompt you to ask questions before it happens to you.
What should you ask before hiring a lawyer? expand_more
- –Ask who will handle your matter day-to-day and who supervises that person, so you know whose judgment is actually behind the advice.
- –Ask for a written fee estimate or fixed-fee quote, and ask specifically what circumstances would cause that estimate to increase.
- –Ask how often you will receive updates without having to chase, and what the preferred communication channel is.
- –Ask what documents or information they need from you immediately to get started, so delays are not caused by an unclear onboarding process.
- –Ask how the firm handles unexpected complications, such as a finance clause extension, a title issue, or a request for additional evidence from Immigration New Zealand, and whether those situations trigger additional charges.
Also recommended law firms in New Zealand
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Heathcote Legal
↑ 2★ 5.0 220 reviews +4 Top5 Score 178 +15★ 219 4★ 1Heathcote Legal handles residential conveyancing, land and build contract reviews, and loan document checks, with Lizette coordinating each transaction personally from first review through to settlement. Reviewers buying off the plans or stepping in mid-process after a previous lawyer underdelivered point to her willingness to identify and renegotiate contract conditions as what made the difference.
location_on Bldg D, Level 1/17 Corinthian Drive, Albany, Auckland
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7
The Legal Stuff
↓ 1★ 5.0 190 reviews Top5 Score 1775★ 186 4★ 3 2★ 1The Legal Stuff takes first-home buyers, repeat purchasers, and property sellers through conveyancing, refinancing, estate purchases, wills, and employment matters, with Jo, Kirsten, Jess, and Robyn each named by clients for explaining every step in plain terms and responding quickly to questions. Clients managing unusual situations, such as buying a deceased estate using KiwiSaver or settling from overseas, point to proactive communication and detailed knowledge as what kept the process on track.
location_on 62 Wake Street, Chartwell, Hamilton
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8
Urban Property Law Conveyancers
verifiedVerified ↓ 1★ 5.0 307 reviews Top5 Score 1775★ 303 4★ 3 2★ 1Urban Property Law guides first-home buyers, repeat purchasers, and property sellers through conveyancing, sale and purchase transactions, and LIM and contract reviews, with Jodi, Jo, and Alicia each named by clients for explaining every step in plain terms and staying reachable throughout. When circumstances become difficult, such as a bereavement mid-transaction or managing a settlement from overseas, the team absorbs the pressure and keeps the process moving without adding to the stress.
location_on 2C Heath Street, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga schedule Mon–Fri 8am–5pm · Sat–Sun Closed
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9
Amiable Legal
★ 5.0 224 reviews Top5 Score 1775★ 222 4★ 1 1★ 1Amiable Legal carries first-home buyers, repeat purchasers, and property sellers through conveyancing, refinancing, title transfers, and simultaneous sale-and-purchase transactions, with Ami, Marie, and Sacha each named by clients for keeping them informed at every stage. Reviewers new to New Zealand and those managing prolonged settlements both point to clear explanations in plain language and proactive communication as what gave them confidence to proceed.
location_on 35 Main South Road, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch
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10
Absolut Legal
★ 5.0 223 reviews Top5 Score 1775★ 220 4★ 2 1★ 1Absolut Legal moves clients through residential property sales, purchases, and simultaneous sale-and-purchase transactions with named team members like Sharon, Nicole, and Melanie each keeping clients updated and explaining contract language in plain terms throughout. Fixed-fee pricing means clients know the full cost upfront, and reviewers managing the stress of buying and selling at the same time point to smooth, hitch-free settlement days as the consistent outcome.
location_on 37 Epsom Road, Sockburn, Christchurch
About this ranking
What the 10 law firms listed above hold, at the 5 October 2026 check.
We first assessed law firms in New Zealand in April 2026 and have rechecked the ranking six times since. Two different businesses have held first place; Saunders & Co has held it since August 2026. Saunders & Co, Jury Law and Gateway Lawyers have been in the top 5 at every check.
What has changed since April 2026? expand_more
- Sep 2026
Scoring method updated. Bagsic Law entered the top 5 at #3. Absolut Legal left the top 5, down to #10. Urban Property Law entered the list at #7.
- Aug 2026
Absolut Legal returned to the top 5, up from #6. Heathcote Legal left the top 5, down to #8.
- Jul 2026
Scoring method updated. Saunders & Co returned to first place. Heathcote Legal returned to the top 5, up from #6. Absolut Legal left the top 5, down to #6.
- Jun 2026
Scoring method updated. New first place: Jury Law. NZ Legal entered the top 5, up from #9. Absolut Legal returned to the top 5, up from #6. Heathcote Legal left the top 5, down to #6.
- May 2026
Heathcote Legal entered the top 5, up from #6. Absolut Legal left the top 5, down to #6. Amiable Legal left the top 5, down to #7.
- Apr 2026
First check. Saunders & Co #1.
Latest check, 5 October 2026: no change to the top 5. Months where nothing changed at the top are not listed.
How are the top law firms in New Zealand chosen? expand_more
This national page is built from our city rankings, so a business appears here only if it already ranks in one of the cities we cover. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
This national page is built from our city rankings, so a business appears here only if it already ranks in one of the cities we cover. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.