Lawyer-Led Innovation

New Zealand’s legal services market is experiencing a fundamental structural shift in how legal services are delivered. There is a large and growing segment of the population that does not qualify for legal aid yet cannot comfortably afford full-fee private legal services. This middle market represents one of the most significant access to the legal services challenges facing the profession.

Legal needs in New Zealand are widespread. Around one in three adults experience a significant legal problem each year across areas such as family, employment, housing, debt and consumer disputes. Fewer than 40 percent of people with legal problems use a lawyer. Many delay advice, self-represent or abandon valid claims altogether. Litigants-in-person have a significant impact on court resourcing, delays and increased cost for the represented party.

So why does this gap exist?  Why don’t traditional delivery models scale for this section of New Zealanders, and how can lawyer-led innovation can bridge it. To explain this, we draw on national data, market dynamics and the case study of the LegalForms platform developed and hosted by The Law Association of New Zealand (The Law Association).

This Insights paper provides a clear understanding of the middle-market opportunity, the risks of inaction, and the characteristics of responsible lawyer-led innovation.