The monthly rosters are generated to provide the courts with the required number of duty lawyers to effectively service the court. These are released periodically as and when the court provides Legal Aid with the required information.
If you are a rostered duty lawyer in a non- Public Defense Service (PDS) court and you are no longer able to work, contact the national schedulers and your court to advise the legal aid lawyer replacing your rostered day.
If you are a rostered duty lawyer in a PDS court and you are no longer able to work, follow the process outlined in the instructions specific to your court.
The object of the duty lawyer service is to ensure that a sufficient number of lawyers are available at each District Court for the purpose of assisting, advising, and representing unrepresented defendants charged with a criminal offence.
Information and resources for duty lawyers can be found here.(external link)
| Name | Comments |
| Kate Stretton - PDS | |
| John Pennick | |
| Nicky Sarich | |
| Owen Martell | |
| Maddy Phillipps | |
| Alexander Steedman | |
| Clare Watkins | |
| Maxine Pitch | |
| Te Rata Frazer-Rata | |
| Masumi Scherb | |
| PDS/TBA |
| Name | Comments |
| Sally Asmundson - PDS | |
| Danielle Beston | |
| Lincoln Burns | |
| Melanie Coxon | |
| John Pennick | |
| Te Rata Frazer-Rata | |
| Nicky Sarich | |
| David Young | |
| Andrew Rice | |
| Owen Martell | |
| PDS/TBA |
This roster can also be accessed directly via https://www.justice.govt.nz/about/lawyers-and-service-providers/legal-aid-lawyers/duty-lawyer-roster/
Copyright 2025 Legal Statement