Primary or Senior Investigating Lawyer

Primary or Senior Investigating Lawyer – Wellington

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is a highly specialised government department whose mission is to disrupt and deter serious or complex financial crime through prevention, investigation, and prosecution. We take pride in the work we do to keep New Zealand safe from fraud and corruption.

We employ a talented team of lawyers, forensic accountants, investigators, and electronic forensic, counter fraud and policy experts to do just that, and, importantly, we have a small corporate services team that supports our operational team. Numbering eighty, we are a cohesive team with a strong sense of justice and a vibrant culture.

About the role

Ready to take on work that matters? Join the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as an Investigating Lawyer and help tackle some of New Zealand's most complex and significant fraud and corruption cases.

Based in our Wellington office on The Terrace, just moments from the Beehive and vibrant Lambton Quay, you'll be at the centre of some of the country's most high-profile investigations. While Wellington is our preferred location, we will also consider exceptional candidates based in Auckland. This is a full-time, permanent opportunity.

Reporting to an SFO Principal, you'll work as part of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team alongside Investigators, Forensic Accountants, and Electronic Forensic Investigators. From the earliest stages of an investigation through to prosecution, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping case strategy and delivering justice.

In this varied and rewarding role, you will:

• Contribute to the strategic direction of complex investigations.
• Provide expert legal analysis and advice to investigation teams.
• Participate in investigative activities and help build robust cases.
• Draft investigation reports and legal opinions.
• Work alongside leading senior criminal lawyers from the SFO Panel on significant prosecutions.
• Assist with the preparation of court documents, submissions, and prosecution materials.
• Appear in court on administrative matters and as second counsel in trials.

As an in-house public prosecutor, you'll have the unique opportunity to combine investigative work with courtroom advocacy, contributing to cases that protect New Zealand's integrity and public trust.

This role offers intellectually stimulating work, exposure to complex legal and financial issues, and the chance to collaborate with some of the country's leading investigative and legal professionals. If you're looking for a career where your expertise can make a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.

About you

To be successful in this role you have: 

• a current practicing certificate, and have four or more years of practicing experience, specialise in criminal law. 

• previous experience in advising complex criminal investigations or recent litigation of financial crime matters is ideally beneficial.  
• the ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team as well as with other legal professionals.  
• familiarity with legal databases and have excellent research and analysis skills  
• an ability to draft sound advice in relation to complex issues.  
• strong verbal and written communication skills for writing reports and presenting findings. 

About the SFO

At the SFO we value a ‘growth mindset’ and explore this attribute during our recruitment process and in our development discussions. We believe possessing a growth mindset is a key contributor to success in the SFO environment. We are a close and motivated team with a strong workplace culture. We recognise that diversity and inclusion is important to our work. We value the unique abilities and perspectives of our employees which allows us to continue to create a supportive environment that meets the needs of our people, our business, and the communities where we work. We encourage applications from individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive and respectful workplace.

We want our people to feel supported, connected, and able to do their best work and we have competitive policies to reflect that.

The position descriptions for this role are below:

SFO-Investigating-Lawyer-Permanent-Position-Description.pdf

SFO-Senior-Investigating-Lawyer-Permanent-Position-Description.pdf

If you would like further information about this role, you are welcome to email the recruitment team at recruitment@sfo.govt.nz.

If you wish to apply for this role, please submit your CV and cover letter (attachments titled ‘First Name Last Name – CV or Cover Letter’).

You can learn more about working for the SFO in this video:  https://youtu.be/WYwcrtRBFl0

Applications close 4PM Friday 06 November 2026 

During recruitment, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) collects personal information provided by you as a recruitment candidate, for the purpose of assessing your candidacy for employment with the SFO. Your personal information will be treated in accordance with our obligations under the Privacy Act 2020. 

In providing your personal information to the SFO, you authorise the SFO to disseminate information about you to persons and third parties involved in the SFO’s recruitment process. These persons and third parties may include SFO employees, SFO contractors, and agencies and individuals providing assessments, probity, background, and identity check services. We do not use, share, or disclose personal information collected or received through the recruitment process except as set out in this statement, with your consent, or in accordance with the disclosure exceptions set out in the Privacy Act 2020.

The SFO undertakes to collect and store your personal information securely, as defined in the Privacy Act 2020. You retain the right to request a review, amendment, return or destruction of your personal information, subject to relevant grounds of refusal under the Privacy Act 2020. Should employment with the SFO eventuate, your personal information will be securely retained in the SFO employment records.