The NZBA is committed to developing a referral bar that reflects the diversity of the legal profession and the wider community.
The Diversity Committee & Diversity Policy
The Diversity and Inclusion Committee was established to advance the NZBA’s commitment to diversity and has developed a Diversity Policy.
The Committee develops and promotes initiatives and activities to promote equality, diversity and inclusion across the independent bar.
The Committee’s objectives include promoting the independent bar as a career choice for all, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious belief, cultural or socio-economic background and/or disability. It seeks to identify and address barriers and assumptions that inhibit the progression of individuals into and within the profession. Examples of such barriers include discrimination, non-equal treatment and socio-economic factors.
The Committee’s overarching aspiration is to foster and achieve a profession representative of all and for all.
The Gender Equitable Engagement and Instruction Policy
On 5 December 2017, the Gender Equitable Engagement and Instruction Policy (GEEIP) was launched by the NZBA and New Zealand Law Society. Its key objective was that policy adopters would use reasonable endeavours to have women lawyers with relevant expertise take the lead on at least 30% of court proceedings, arbitral proceedings and major regulatory investigations.
The Law Society also rolled out its Gender Equality Charter (GEC). This had a wider application than just those at the bar. Following discussions between the two organisations in 2022, it was decided to roll the GEEIP into the GEC to simplify the system. The equitable briefing provisions appear in section 5 of the GEC. They aim to ensure that women lawyers receive a fair allocation of work and lead roles in significant engagements and instructions in all areas of work.
If your organisation, firm or chambers would like to adopt the charter or find out more, please email womeninlaw@lawsociety.org.nz
Gender Research
The NZBA received a grant from The Law Foundation to fund research into the gender ratio of lawyers appearing in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in 2018 and 2020 (both in association with the Law Foundation). The 2024 Report was funded by the Bar Association on its own. The research now covers the years 2012 to 2023.
The work on the ratio of appearances by women was undertaken in response to concerns from both members and the courts that despite the growing number of women at the bar, this growth was not seen in appearances in the higher courts. The aim of the project was to inform discussion about women’s representation in the higher courts and encourage steps to address this issue.
The research is supervised by members of the Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.