Best Law Firms in Wellington
We assessed 76 law firms in Wellington and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 860 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 30 September 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 Wellington
The top 5 law firms in Wellington are #1 Success Global, #2 LIU Legal, #3 Gault Mitchell Law, #4 Convex Legal, and #5 Livingston & Livingston, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you instruct.
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1
Success Global
★ 5.0 307 reviews Top5 Score 1745★ 301 4★ 5 1★ 1Success Global navigates student visas, work visas, partnership visas, and residency applications, including cases where earlier attempts looked unlikely to succeed. When complications arise mid-process, the team steps in with clear legal explanations and takes on document coordination directly, including overseas paperwork like police certificates requiring international liaison.
location_on Ste G16/1 Clyde Quay Wharf Accessway West, Te Aro, Wellington
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2
L I U Legal
↓ 1★ 5.0 98 reviews +2 Top5 Score 167 +15★ 97 4★ 1LIU Legal gets buyers to settlement with conveyancing work handled end-to-end, from contract walkthroughs and risk explanations to coordinating directly with banks so clients rarely need to chase anything. Penny and the team explain each step in plain language, offer flexible meeting options including phone and video calls, and provide fixed-price packages so there are no surprises on cost.
location_on 3/44 Victoria Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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3
Gault Mitchell Law
↓ 1★ 5.0 83 reviews Top5 Score 1625★ 81 4★ 2Gault Mitchell Law takes first-home buyers through property purchases, refinancing, family trust arrangements, and sale transactions, with solicitors who flag issues and suggest contract changes without being asked. Upfront cost estimates are provided before engagement, and when timelines shift unexpectedly, the team adapts without clients needing to push for it.
location_on Level 4/22 The Terrace, Wellington
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4
Convex Legal
↓ 1★ 4.9 79 reviews +1 Top5 Score 156 +15★ 76 4★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 1Convex Legal carries first-home buyers, refinancers, and property sellers through to settlement, with named solicitors like Jordan, Sam, and Natalie walking clients through each step in plain language. Remote and cross-border transactions are handled without complication, and clients consistently reach settlement on time even when taking on time-sensitive work at short notice.
location_on level 4/82 Willis Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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5
Livingston & Livingston
↓ 1★ 5.0 48 reviews +4 Top5 Score 155 +35★ 48Livingston & Livingston moves first-home buyers, refinancers, and debt recovery clients through to resolution, with Digby drawing on a calm, plain-language style that regularly includes late-night responses to client questions. Fees are repeatedly noted as reasonable compared to other lawyers, and KiwiSaver withdrawals, charging orders, and mortgage refinancing are coordinated without clients needing to prompt for updates.
location_on 32 Mulgrave Street, Pipitea, Wellington
Before you instruct a law firm in Wellington
Drawn from 190 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What do lawyers typically charge in New Zealand? expand_more
Junior solicitors at smaller Wellington firms charge roughly $150 to $250 per hour, while experienced partners at larger commercial firms can charge $400 to $600 or more. Fixed fees are common for standard matters like conveyancing, wills, and refinancing, and several Wellington firms reviewed here offer upfront fixed-price packages so you know the total cost before you commit.
Disbursements, which cover third-party costs like title searches and registration fees, are charged on top of professional fees and should be itemised in any quote. Under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, your lawyer must give you clear fee information before or at the start of engagement, and the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) handles complaints if you believe you have been overcharged.
How do I know if a law firm actually specialises in what I need? expand_more
Check the firm's website for a published list of practice areas, and look for evidence that the area you need is a genuine focus rather than a passing mention alongside a dozen other services. Ask directly how many matters of this type the firm handles each year, since a lawyer who does twenty conveyances a month will spot issues a generalist sees once a year.
Look at individual lawyer profiles for relevant experience, years in practice, and any membership of specialist bodies such as the Property Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS). Reviews referencing the same type of work you need, such as first-home purchases, refinancing, immigration, or debt recovery, are a practical signal that the firm handles your situation regularly.
Who will actually handle my matter: a senior lawyer or a junior? expand_more
At larger firms, a senior lawyer often takes the initial brief and then passes the day-to-day work to a junior solicitor or legal clerk, which can affect both quality and cost if mistakes require correction. Reviews of smaller Wellington firms and sole practitioners show that clients valued knowing exactly who was handling their file, with the same person available by phone or email throughout the process. Before signing an engagement letter, ask specifically who will be the primary contact on your matter, who will supervise their work, and whether that arrangement could change mid-process.
What are the warning signs of a law firm you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –Fees that end up significantly higher than the initial quote, with no clear explanation of what drove the increase.
- –Lawyers who are hard to reach in the days leading up to settlement or when a time-sensitive decision is needed.
- –Paperwork errors such as wrong names, incorrect title types, or documents copied from previous files without being updated.
- –Handover to a different lawyer mid-matter without prior notice or explanation.
- –Bills that are not itemised by default, requiring you to request a line-by-line breakdown.
- –A lawyer who does not proactively follow up with the other party when communication stalls, leaving you to chase progress yourself.
What should you ask before hiring a lawyer? expand_more
- –Who will handle my matter day-to-day, and who supervises their work if that person is junior?
- –What is the estimated total cost, including disbursements, and is a fixed-fee option available?
- –How will you keep me updated, and how often can I expect to hear from you without having to ask?
- –What do you need from me at the start to avoid delays later?
- –How do you handle unexpected complications, and will additional costs be flagged before the work is done?
- –Have you handled matters like mine recently, and roughly how many per year?
Also recommended law firms in Wellington
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Gibson Sheat Lawyers - Wellington City
↓ 1★ 4.8 56 reviews +6 Top5 Score 152 +55★ 52 4★ 1 1★ 3Gibson Sheat Lawyers resolves visa applications, residency cases, and employment matters, with Vikram regularly taking on applications that had already been refused and building fresh arguments from scratch. Clients working through property purchases and portfolio restructuring name Jana and Patrick for keeping complex transactions straightforward without inflating costs.
location_on Centre Level 2/50 Customhouse Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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7
JB Morrison Lawyers Wellington
↓ 1★ 4.4 63 reviews +5 Top5 Score 147 +15★ 51 4★ 1 3★ 3 1★ 8JB Morrison Lawyers covers property purchases, commercial lease reviews, business sales and acquisitions, family matters, and estate-related trust work, with named lawyers taking clear ownership of each file from start to finish. Reviewers across multiple practice areas single out plain-language explanations and lawyers catching details clients would have missed, particularly on contract and documentation reviews.
location_on Level 7, 126 Lambton Quay, Level 7/49 The Terrace, Wellington
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8
Langford Law
★ 4.8 33 reviews +3 Top5 Score 144 +25★ 30 4★ 2 1★ 1Langford Law guides first-home buyers, property sellers, and family trust clients through conveyancing and estate matters, with George and John both noted for turning complex documentation into plain, structured information clients can actually follow. Multiple families have returned across years and multiple transactions, finding the team approachable by phone or email at each stage.
location_on Level 7/90 The Terrace, Wellington Central, Wellington
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9
Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley - Te Awa Kairangi Office
↓ 2★ 4.4 59 reviews Top5 Score 143 +15★ 47 4★ 2 3★ 3 2★ 2 1★ 5At Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley, a free community model means employment questions, attestation help, and general legal advice are accessible without cost. Frank, direct advice without unnecessary hedging is something multiple clients single out, and repeat visitors find the service useful across more than one legal issue.
location_on Level 2/59 Queens Drive, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt
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10
HomeLegal (GYW)
★ 4.8 34 reviews Top5 Score 1425★ 29 4★ 3 3★ 2HomeLegal walks first-home buyers, property sellers, and refinancing clients through conveyancing from start to settlement, with named lawyers including Tim, Jordan, Sam, and Courtney each taking clear ownership of their files. Clients buying from overseas, navigating tricky negotiations, or asking heavy rounds of questions find the team patient and responsive at every stage, explaining steps in plain language rather than legal terminology.
location_on 10 Hutt Road, Petone, Lower Hutt
About this ranking
What the 10 law firms listed above hold, at the 30 September 2026 check.
We first assessed law firms in Wellington in March 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Four different businesses have held first place; Success Global has held it since September 2026. Convex Legal has been in the top 5 at every check. Across the 14 locations we assess law firms in, the 140 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.8, and one-star reviews are 3.1% of their total.
What has changed since March 2026? expand_more
- Sep 2026
Scoring method updated. New first place: Success Global. Success Global entered the top 5 at #1. Gibson Sheat Lawyers left the top 5, down to #6. Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley returned to the list at #9. HomeLegal entered the list at #10.
- Jul 2026
Scoring method updated. JB Morrison Lawyers entered the list at #6.
- Apr 2026
Scoring method updated. Gibson Sheat Lawyers entered the top 5, up from #6. Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley entered the list at #7.
- Mar 2026
First check. Convex Legal #1.
Months where nothing changed at the top are not listed.
How are the top law firms in Wellington chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for law firms in Wellington. 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
We build this page from Google Maps results for law firms in Wellington. 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.