You should first establish whether you in fact need a lawyer. You may be able to deal with the problem yourself. It may be that the issue could be dealt with by the Disputes Tribunal, where the parties involved represent themselves (see How to make a claim to the Disputes Tribunal).
Next work out what area of law your problem falls into. Lawyers specialise in different areas, so you should find someone who specialises in the area of your particular problem.
Another important consideration is whether your case might go to Court; if so, you could need the services of a barrister. The difference between a barrister and a solicitor is that a barrister is a lawyer who appears in court, whereas a solicitor deals with transactions, such as business and family matters.
In New Zealand, lawyers may choose to practise as either a solicitor or barrister, or to practise as both. In smaller law firms, lawyers tend to practise as both barrister and solicitor, whereas in larger firms lawyers can specialise in court work.
After identifying the type of specialist lawyer you need, there are a number of resources available to help you to find a lawyer:
When choosing your lawyer you should consider how much you can afford to pay, and the experience and reputation of the lawyer.
While older lawyers may be more experienced, they will not necessarily be better than a younger one: for example, they might not have much experience in the particular area of law you are concerned with. On the other hand, while an older lawyer might charge more per hour, it is possible a younger lawyer may take longer in research and preparation time.
Reputation should not necessarily determine your choice. It is very important that the person you choose as your lawyer is someone with whom you feel comfortable enough to be able have open and frank discussions: you will need to be able to confide in this person. You must also feel confident about their competence in dealing with your personal affairs.
If your case is urgent you should also consider how busy your lawyer is, and whether or not he or she would be able to start promptly.
Lawyers usually charge by the hour. Most of them charge between $100 and $225 an hour.
Some lawyers will have a set rate for doing certain things, such buying a house.
If you're unhappy with how much your lawyer has charged you, you can complain to the District Law Society: see How to complain about a lawyer.