Good training...
...is the best start to a law career

Portia prefers to hire and train graduates because we do things so differently from traditional law firms.

We try to hire in groups of three due to the intensive three-month training programme that our graduate employees undertake (it’s better for you to be trained with two others so you have peer support and progress in the business with colleagues you started with).

Interviews are carried out in two parts: the first interview is conducted by junior members of staff (who are looking for cultural fit); those that the panel recommend are then interviewed by our principal solicitor, an associate and sometimes the CEO.

Successful interviewees are required to undertake psychometric evaluation and in-depth background checks before being offered a position of legal intern for three months.

Once training is completed they are offered a role as staff solicitor in either the Litigation or Legal Response teams, and mentored by a more senior lawyer for 18 months.

Our Christchurch office mainly undertakes family and civil litigation, Timaru focuses on family, civil and criminal, and Blenheim is purely family law work. However, we often use AVL to spread the load: for example if Blenheim is overwhelmed with clients then they can be seen by either Christchurch or Timaru staff in the Blenheim office’s video suites.

Portia prides itself on being justice warriors and producing excellent lawyers. We’ve come a long way in a short time and are truly evolving what it means to practice law in this country.

Erin Ebborn introduces Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann around to Portia's lawyers on a visit in 2020

VACANCY
Legal Interns

• Blenheim
• Christchurch

Hi!

Getting the right start in law is hard. There are so few positions available for people who are just leaving university. Sure, the big law firms will take on a few juniors but we've all heard the horror stories.

It's our personal goal to help every member of staff to achieve excellence. This is a firm that grows talent and we are very good at it. Our lawyers are known to be honest, hard-working and sound litigators.

This September we're hiring three law grads who understand what excellence means and are seeking to achieve that. You will receive three months paid intensive training in all aspects of client care and family law at our Christchurch head office, then be deployed to either Christchurch or Blenheim to start your career as Staff Solicitors in the litigation team.

Getting the right start with the right firm is important if you want your career in law to flourish. Portia provides the right environment, the right mentoring and the right training to grow amazing lawyers. Have you got what it takes to join us?

The work is varied, interesting and - for the right sort of person - very satisfying. Ready to kick off your career in law? Want to see how great you can become?  Apply with a CV and covering letter using the form on this page or visit Seek.co.nz. Make sure you put effort into your application - you will up against a lot of other people!

Erin Ebborn
Principal Lawyer

Jarrod Coburn
CEO/Kaiwhakahaere

Portia's head office in Cashel Mall, in the heart of the city.

Five reasons...
...to be a litigation lawyer at Portia

Career-focused



Modern


Practising well




​
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​Access to justice







​Fun





​The grim reality

Getting the right start in the legal profession can be tough. It's a complex career choice and you need to be sure that you'll get the right training.
​
Portia has hardly any hierarchy: each staff member is empowered to do their job without micro-management.

Staff welfare is a primary concern of Erin and her management team. We provide psychological counselling sessions, in-house well-being training, fully-flexible working hours and days, and a commitment to making your job as enjoyable as possible. We don't make you work stupid hours either - all Portia staff only work the hours they are paid.

The highest service a human can give to another human is justice. At Portia we are specialists in providing efficient, quality legal services. That's why we can help so many people who are funded through legal aid. In fact, we have been the largest provider of family legal aid for seven years, and are the second-largest legal aid provider overall.

We don't have a flash yacht, we don't have a party culture. What we do have is interesting, happy people. What can be more fun than working alongside intelligent, articulate, likeable people? I guess it really depends on what you're looking for in life.

Litigation is demanding and requires a level of toughness that most people lack. You're dealing with Judges who are under pressure to get through caseloads, Court Registrars who manage thousands of matters a week, lawyers from other firms who expect the best from you at all times, and clients - many of whom have never experienced the justice system and are highly emotional. This is not a job for the weak of heart: this is a job for someone who truly understands the importance of justice and is willing to make sacrifices to see that it happens.