Maternity Leave Cover Commencing February 2026
2025 ANZ Employer of Choice & Small Firm Standout Winner
Pearce IP is an award-winning, market-leading boutique firm of specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys providing intellectual property services to the life sciences industries. Most of our work is pharma/biopharma/animal health/gene editing/personalised medicine/ag-tech and food-tech.
We develop, coordinate and execute local and multi-jurisdictional IP/legal strategies (including contentious and non-contentious matters), provide IP/legal support for regional and global business development activities and licensing deals, and draft and prosecute patent and trade mark applications around the world.
Candidates with the right qualifications can work from anywhere. Pearce IP offers to its team both working from home and office options - the best of both worlds.
The Role
We are looking for an organised and motivated Legal Executive Assistant to join our team from 2 February 2026 to 31 October 2026, on a 9-month fixed-term contract to cover a period of maternity leave.
Working five days a week you will play a key role in ensuring the legal team runs smoothly. Your responsibilities will include:
* Provide executive legal administrative support services to Pearce IP's solicitors, attorneys and paralegals.
* Assist with the preparation and filing of legal documents and materials for court.
* Provide day-to-day executive support to our Pearce IP lawyers and wider legal team.
* Maintaining accurate records and case management systems to track deadlines and fillings.
* Liaise and coordinate with clients, courts and the Pearce IP legal team.
* Support the legal team with ad hoc projects and workflow management.
* Oversee corporate travel bookings for the team.
* Participate in monthly billing activities, including preparing, finalising and distributing invoices, including through e-billing platforms, and responding to billing enquiries.
* Assist in the awards submission process.
About you
Candidates will have experience as an executive assistant in the legal field.
You will bring to the role:
* Sound organisation and time management skills allowing you to manage multiple deadlines.
* Confidence in direct client communications and peer-to-pee interactions
* A professional, proactive and team-focused approach to your work with a high attention to detail.
* Problem solving skills and decision-making abilities.
* Proficient in Office 365; and
* Proficiency in Actionstep or similar system.
Culture and Benefits
All Pearce IP Team Members live out our values of Brand Ambassadors, Respect, Integrity, Talent, and Excellence. We offer a range of excellent employee benefits including:
* Birthday leave: because no one wants to work on their birthday
* Generous parental leave: because we celebrate the birth of your baby with you
* Still birth and miscarriage leave: because your loss and grief matters to us
* Menopause and menstrual leave: because menopause/menstruation is not an illness
* Study leave: because we set you up for success
* Sorry business & Tangihanga leave: because we honour your cultural traditions in times of grief and difficulty
* Annual leave: accrued annual leave entitlements for NZ employees with all company employees provided with an additional week of cumulative annual leave each year after five years employment.
Pearce IP recognises, is committed to, and celebrates a diverse and inclusive workplace. All interested candidates with the required skills and experience are encouraged to apply.
How to apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter for consideration by clicking on the 'Apply' button below.
If you would like further information, a position description, to confidentially discuss any adjustments you might require throughout the recruitment process, or wish to confidentially discuss the role, please contact Pearce IP's Executive, Deputy CEO & Head of Talent, Adele Chadwick at or on