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Find out what our lawyers have to say about working at Chen Palmer below.
I've worked in a variety of organisation types, shapes and sizes and working at Chen Palmer takes all the best things from those organisations and amplifies it! Every day there is a new and exciting challenge, and the diversity of clients and issues really makes the day whizz by. Working with Mai is terrific, she has a wealth of knowledge and I learn something new every hour almost! There is a great buzz in the office and everyone is really supportive of each other. The standard of work and performance in the firm is higher than anywhere else I've worked, and it is extremely satisfying to be rewarded on your merit.
- Marina Matthews, Intermediate Associate
The work is diverse, fast-paced, outcome-focused and always interesting. We are often lawyers of last resort, which requires effective and creative problem-solving. We set high standards, and take pride in our success. It is great training for a young lawyer.
The environment is collaborative and supportive, and you feel valued from day one. The team is fantastic to work with. Everyone has something unique to offer, and we learn a lot from each other.
- Kate Yesberg, Associate
I thoroughly enjoy working at Chen Palmer. This is my fourth year with the firm and I really feel that this is where I belong. At Chen Palmer the only thing that matters is your performance, not how long you have been at the firm or who you know. I value being able to take ownership of projects and I feel truly responsible for some of the great work we do for clients. At the same time, I really feel that the firm supports and trains me to be the best I can be, every day.
The work at Chen Palmer is always different and interesting, and it is fantastic to be able to work with a flexible, responsive team of lawyers to do what seems impossible. We punch well above our weight and we have lives outside the office too! It's the best of both worlds.
- James Dunne, Intermediate Associate
Working at Chenpalmer is a challenging, exciting and vibrant experience. It is immensely satisfying to be dealing with issues on a daily basis which you care about, and which energise you. There is never a dull moment, and that's exactly how I like it. Clerking with such an experienced and diverse team has been especially rewarding for me, as it has exposed me to the real world of top-tier lawyering. I am constantly learning and developing my skills, which I find tremendously valuable. Public law is exactly what I want to do. Working at Chen Palmer conclusively proved this to me.
- Conrad Reyners, Law Clerk
If you want to be the best at public law, Chen Palmer is the place to be. The standard of practice is extremely high, and the work is always cutting edge and exciting. Chen Palmer measures success not in the size of its team but in the quality of its staff, so if you can perform then Chen Palmer really takes care of you.
I joined Chen Palmer because Public Law is my passion and Chen Palmer is the pre-eminent Public Law firm in New Zealand. I was attracted to the intellectually challenging and stimulating high-profile work that the firm offers and the firm's highly talented, dynamic, and solutions-focussed team. Since joining the firm, I have been impressed by the outstanding level of service it provides to its clients and the team's determination and ability to perform at the highest level at all times.
I came to Chen Palmer as a graduate, and greatly enjoyed working here. Chen Palmer is a small but talented team of people. A major difference between Chen Palmer and other law firms is the cooperation between staff, the mentoring of younger members to ensure they reach their potential, and the opportunity to learn from one of the best public lawyers in New Zealand. We are more than a law firm. We are family.
As the number one New Zealand public law firm, Chen Palmer helps a broad spectrum of clients with many interesting and stimulating public law issues. The team is small, efficient, diverse and very supportive. The nature of our work means that we have the opportunity to play an important advocacy role in a democratic society, fighting for fairness and procedural propriety on a daily basis. It's also about our own ability to make a difference as individuals - knowing that what we do affects other people's lives, hopefully for the better. We are not part of some monolithic bureaucracy but an organisation that interacts directly with the people we represent. It means direct relationships with our clients.
Advocacy does not just happen in the courts and before Ministers and officials. It also happens 'at large'. Chen Palmer can make a difference by helping shape public expectation about what is acceptable behaviour by and within the Executive branch of Government and the people who inhabit its offices/positions. Higher expectations tend to lead towards higher performance. In this way, Chen Palmer's contribution to society is to improve the standard of governing in New Zealand and increase the public's trust in our system of Government.