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 | |
| Kevin Brosnahan | |
| Owen Martell | |
| Nicky Sarich | |
| Clare Watkins | |
| Jerome Webby | |
| Raewyn McCausland | |
| Maddy Phillipps | |
| Sam Walker | |
| Zoe Butcher-McGunnigle | |
| PDS | |
| Frank Pereira | |
| Sommer Crowley | |
| John Pennick |
| Name | Comments |
| Kate Stretton | |
| Sam Gunn | |
| Lincoln Burns | |
| Melanie Coxon | |
| John Pennick | |
| David Young | |
| Nicky Sarich | |
| Te Rata Frazer-Rata | |
| Frank Pereira | |
| Sommer Crowley | |
| Clare Watkins | |
| Masumi Scherb |
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 2026 Legal Statement