Legal aid lawyers in Rotorua
57 lawyers at 40 firms in Rotorua can take legal aid cases. Their phone numbers are below. Legal aid helps pay for a lawyer if you can't afford one.
Not sure where to start? Read what to do first below, or call the Ministry of Justice legal aid line on 0800 253 425 (free, weekdays 8am to 5pm).
What to do first
If you've been charged
- Apply for legal aid as soon as you're charged. Don't wait for your first day in court.
- On your first day in court, ask for the duty lawyer. It's free, and they can help you apply for legal aid.
- For most charges, the Ministry chooses your legal aid lawyer. For very serious charges (more than 10 years in prison), you can choose your own.
If it's a family matter
- Find a family legal aid lawyer first. Call a few from the list until one can take your case.
- Your lawyer helps you apply for legal aid. Bring details of your income, savings, debts and anything you own.
- Bring any letters or court papers about your case, and your partner's income details if you have a partner.
If it's a civil matter
- Civil legal aid can cover things like ACC, problems at work, money and housing disputes.
- Find a civil legal aid lawyer first. Fewer lawyers do this work, so start calling early.
- Your lawyer helps you apply for legal aid.
Legal aid in Rotorua at a glance
- 37 lawyers can take criminal legal aid cases, including the most serious charges (level 4 of 4).
- 31 lawyers work as duty lawyers, the free help at court on your first day.
- 17 lawyers give free advice to people held by the police.
- 28 lawyers can take family legal aid cases, and 22 give family legal advice.
- 7 lawyers can take civil legal aid cases, such as ACC or employment.
- Some also take mental health (11), Māori Land Court (2), Waitangi Tribunal (6) cases.
- Languages other than English: Te Reo Māori (1), Thai (1).
Free help near Rotorua
Free legal advice
Rotorua District Community Law
Rotorua office · In Rotorua
(07) 348 8060Free legal help from lawyers, for people who can't afford one. Contact details and clinics
Free advice and forms
CAB Rotorua
1143 Eruera Street, Rotorua 3010
In Rotorua
07 348 3936Walk in, call or email. They can help you understand forms and find the right service.
Duty lawyer
Rotorua District Court
1162 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua
In Rotorua
0800 268 787On your first day in court, ask at reception for the duty lawyer. It's free if you don't have a lawyer.
Nearest by distance from the centre of Rotorua. Checked 5 October 2026. Offices sometimes move, so call before you go.
Legal aid lawyers in Rotorua, A to Z
Every lawyer the Ministry of Justice lists in Rotorua, grouped by firm. Call to check they can take your case.
1 legal aid lawyer · See firm page →
FamilyFamily legal adviceCheryl Janet Drought
Alexandra Maino - Barrister
(021) 020001331 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 3 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceAlexandra Albertson Maino
Andrew Hill Law Ltd
(021) 19088021 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4CivilAndrew David Hill
Andrew Schulze Barrister
(07) 34904601 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Andrew Marcus Maxwell Schulze
Annette Sykes & Co Limited
(07) 46004334 legal aid lawyers
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Police station adviceCivilMāori Land CourtWaitangi Tribunal- Annette Te Imaima Sykes · Criminal · up to level 4 of 4, Police station advice, Civil, Māori Land Court, Waitangi Tribunal · (021) 2432172
- Kaleikehauokalani Ngarata Delamere-Ririnui · Waitangi Tribunal
- Maia Suie Te Irirangi Te Hira · Waitangi Tribunal · (021) 2432932
- Samuel John Vincent · Criminal · up to level 2 of 4
Baker Legal Limited
1 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceMental healthAJ Rangi Ruth Baker
Bartle Law Limited
(07) 346 00261 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceStonie Max Patrick Bartle-McDonnell
1 legal aid lawyer · See firm page →
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceAlistair Simon Burns
3 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyFamily legal advice- Kane Bidois · Criminal · up to level 2 of 4, Duty lawyer · (027) 8186720
- Tim Braithwaite · Criminal · up to level 4 of 4, Duty lawyer, Police station advice, Family, Family legal advice
- Tumanako William Silveira · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer
Brian Foote - Lawyer
(027) 49578361 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceMental healthBrian Joseph Dee Foote
Bridget Pereeti Law
(021) 024042761 legal aid lawyer
FamilyFamily legal adviceMental healthBridget Rawinia Pereeti
Carlos Hamon Law
1 legal aid lawyer
FamilyFamily legal adviceMental healthCarlos Anthony Taniwha Hamon
1 legal aid lawyer · See firm page →
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceRachelle Jan Cavanagh
Chelsea Smith Law Limited
(021) 103 58901 legal aid lawyer
FamilyFamily legal adviceMental healthChelsea Grace Smith
D J R Malcom, T/A Redwoods Law
(07) 28193751 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerDafydd James Ross Malcolm
Douglas Hall - Barrister & Solicitor
(07) 34786941 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceDouglas Hamilton Hall
Grace Banuelos - Barrister
(027) 24454241 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 3 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceGrace Banuelos
3 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →
FamilyFamily legal advice- Jennah Lorraine Terlesk · Family, Family legal advice · (07) 3478701
- Maretta Ann Twentyman · Family, Family legal advice · (04) 4958918
- Thacia van Arendonk · Family, Family legal advice
Jenkins Law
(027) 555 75891 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceMatthew Spencer Jenkins
Jo Hosking - Barrister
(07) 34780791 legal aid lawyer
FamilyCivilMental healthJo Ruth Hosking
2 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →
FamilyFamily legal adviceMental health- Samantha Rangimarama Northey · Family
- Stephanie Ngahuia Northey · Family, Family legal advice, Mental health
4 legal aid lawyers · See firm page →
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceCivilMental health- Gina Katherine Celeste Oudyn · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer, Family, Family legal advice, Civil, Mental health
- Jennifer Nicole Steele · Family, Family legal advice · (07) 575 2245
- Mia Flannery · Family, Mental health
- Storm Michelle Raubenheimer · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer, Family, Family legal advice · (07) 346 0796
Mo Dorset - Barrister
(027) 48445341 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyMental healthMargaret Moana Dorset
Ngawhika Law Limited
(021) 24272561 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceTe Reo MāoriTaria Te Rani Wiha Ngawhika
Nikki Utting - Barrister
(021) 7092671 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4FamilyNikki Jane Utting
1 legal aid lawyer · See firm page →
FamilyFamily legal adviceJodie Ann Foster
Olphert Law
(021) 04503421 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 1 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceMichael John Lindsay Olphert
Owen Law Limited
(027) 28955831 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 3 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal adviceLaura Leigh Owen
P T Birks
(07) 34865091 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceFamilyFamily legal adviceCivilMental healthPeter Thomas Anthony Birks
Pax Legal
(027) 47375441 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 3 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceThaiPavee Patanasiri
Scott Mills Barrister
(07) 34904602 legal aid lawyers
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station advice- Lisa Marie Robertson · Criminal · up to level 2 of 4, Duty lawyer, Police station advice
- Scott Isaac Mills · Criminal · up to level 4 of 4, Duty lawyer, Police station advice · (022) 3915176
Simon Travers - Barrister
(07) 35011151 legal aid lawyer
FamilySimon Edgar Charles Travers
Simpkins Legal
(07) 242 70382 legal aid lawyers
Criminal · up to level 4 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceCivilWaitangi Tribunal- Hinerau Janet Rameka · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer, Waitangi Tribunal · (027) 3296541
- Max Allan Simpkins · Criminal · up to level 4 of 4, Duty lawyer, Police station advice, Civil
Steens Law
(07) 34600261 legal aid lawyer
FamilyFamily legal adviceCivilMikail Nicolaas Steens
Swanson Legal
(021) 087053222 legal aid lawyers
CriminalDuty lawyerFamilyFamily legal advice- Terere Doriana Tereremoana Aoake · Criminal, Duty lawyer
- Walter Earnest Swanson · Family, Family legal advice · (07) 3462368
Te Are Trading Company Ltd
(027) 48591251 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceWiremu Haerehuka Amohau Te Are
Te Nahu Legal Limited
(027) 555 30761 legal aid lawyer
Waitangi TribunalJennae Waimaria Maureen Matenga
Treanor Law
(021) 4871541 legal aid lawyer
Criminal · up to level 2 of 4Duty lawyerPolice station adviceCasey Pare Treanor
Tu Pono Legal Ltd
(07) 34800341 legal aid lawyer
Māori Land CourtWaitangi TribunalJason Miles Pou
Tui Law Limited
(021) 082615244 legal aid lawyers
Criminal · up to level 3 of 4Duty lawyerFamilyFamily legal advice- Karissa Ann Walbank · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer
- Racheal Kelly Raukawa · Criminal · up to level 3 of 4, Family, Family legal advice · (021) 973997
- Robert Sean Savage · Criminal · up to level 1 of 4, Duty lawyer · (022) 5914295
- Thea Seraphina Keith · Criminal, Duty lawyer · (027) 7681590
Verified with the Ministry of Justice legal aid list on 12 October 2026. Lawyer details are from the Ministry of Justice, used under CC BY 4.0. We group them by firm and town and add links to firm pages. The Ministry of Justice decides who gets legal aid; Find A Lawyer is not part of the Ministry. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
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