Frequently asked questions

Last updated: 17 August 2026

How lawdbl works, in short: you describe your legal problem and where you are, and lawdbl gives you a shortlist of New Zealand lawyers who match. The questions below cover what it is, how it picks the lawyers it shows you, and where its information comes from.

If your question isn't answered here, email us at [email protected]. There's more background on the project on our About page.

About lawdbl

What is lawdbl?

lawdbl is a free tool that helps you find a lawyer in New Zealand. You describe your legal issue and location in plain language, and lawdbl returns a shortlist of matching lawyers.

The problem it sets out to solve is a simple one: using a general search engine to find the right lawyer for a particular problem is surprisingly hard. lawdbl combines and centralises publicly available information about New Zealand lawyers so you can search it by describing your situation rather than by guessing keywords.

Is lawdbl a law firm?

No. lawdbl is a referral and directory service, not a law firm. It doesn't provide legal advice and using it doesn't create a lawyer-client relationship. Any legal advice comes from the lawyer you go on to contact.

Does lawdbl give legal advice?

No. lawdbl only helps you find a lawyer. Any legal advice about your situation should come from the lawyer you choose to contact, not from lawdbl itself.

Is lawdbl free to use?

Yes, lawdbl is free for members of the public to use. You don't need an account, and you aren't asked to sign in.

Who built lawdbl?

lawdbl was developed by The Legal Drive Limited, an NZ-based legal tech software development and consultancy company founded by NZ lawyer Steve Keall.

Using lawdbl

How do I search?

Type a short description of your problem and where you are, in your own words — for example, "I need a family lawyer in Wellington" or "my employer let me go without notice, I'm in Dunedin". You don't need to know the legal name for your problem; describing what happened is enough.

Why did lawdbl ask me a question instead of showing results?

lawdbl needs two things before it can search: the nature of your legal issue, and your location in New Zealand. If one of them is missing from what you've typed, it will ask you for just that piece, then run the search.

Does lawdbl cover locations outside New Zealand?

No. lawdbl covers New Zealand locations only.

How many lawyers will I see?

Up to ten. If your search is a narrow one there may be fewer, and if lawdbl has to widen the search area to find enough lawyers it will show up to seven.

Why are the results different when I search again?

Every lawyer who matches your issue and your area goes into a pool, and lawdbl picks from that pool at random. Everyone in the pool has an equal chance of being shown, so running the same search again gives you a different selection rather than the same names in the same order.

The Re-run Search button draws a fresh selection from the same pool. You can use it a few times on any given search — handy if you want to see more of the lawyers who matched.

What if there aren't many lawyers near me?

If fewer than three lawyers match in your area, lawdbl automatically widens the search outward from where you are until it finds enough, and shows up to seven. This means a search from a smaller town may return lawyers in the nearest larger centre.

Why do I only see two lawyers from the same firm?

That's deliberate. lawdbl shows at most two lawyers from any one firm, so your shortlist spreads across several firms rather than filling up with one.

Can I look up a particular lawyer by name?

Yes. Use the Search for a particular lawyer box below the chat and enter all or part of the lawyer's name. This is a direct lookup in the directory, so it works differently from the chat search — it isn't filtered by legal field or location.

What is the "Generate Profile" button?

It produces a short summary — around 80 to 120 words — of the lawyer on that card. The summary is written by AI, using only the directory information lawdbl holds about that lawyer, and it's generated fresh each time you press the button.

Profiles are not written, reviewed or approved by the lawyer concerned. Treat them as a quick orientation, not as a statement from the lawyer, and check anything that matters directly with them.

The lawyers and the information

What areas of law does lawdbl cover?

46 practice areas. They cover everyday needs such as family law, employment law, criminal law, immigration law, property law, and trusts, wills and estates, as well as more specialist fields like maritime law, sports law and technology law. You don't need to pick one — describe your situation and lawdbl works out which area fits.

What locations does lawdbl cover?

Locations throughout New Zealand, from the main centres to smaller towns. If there aren't enough lawyers in your immediate area, lawdbl widens the search rather than returning nothing.

Where does the information about lawyers come from?

Some directory information is collected from sources other than the lawyer concerned, including publicly available sources such as the register of lawyers maintained by the New Zealand Law Society, law firm websites and other public professional listings.

How up to date is it?

The directory is refreshed on a continuous rolling basis, with around 2,000 records rechecked against the New Zealand Law Society register every day. Even so, lawyers move firms and change contact details, so it's worth confirming the details with the lawyer when you get in touch.

Are all New Zealand lawyers included in search results?

No. In-house counsel, lawyers based offshore, and records that are no longer current are left out of search results, because they aren't the right answer for a member of the public looking to engage a lawyer.

Can a lawyer pay to appear in results, or to rank higher?

No. There are no fees, advertisements, sponsored placements or referral commissions. No lawyer can pay to be included or to be shown more often. Once the pool of matching lawyers is assembled, the selection is random and every lawyer in it has an equal chance of appearing.

Is a listing an endorsement or a recommendation?

No. Appearing in lawdbl's results means a lawyer matched what you described and practises in your area — nothing more. Choosing a lawyer is your decision, and it's normal to approach more than one before deciding.

For lawyers

Why am I listed on lawdbl?

lawdbl compiles publicly available information about New Zealand lawyers, including the New Zealand Law Society register, law firm websites and other public professional listings, so that members of the public can find the right lawyer for their problem.

How do I correct or remove my details?

Email [email protected] and tell us what needs changing. We'll correct the record or remove your listing on request.

Can I pay to be listed, or to be promoted?

No. Listing is free, and placement can't be bought. There is no paid tier, and no lawyer or firm receives preferential treatment in results.

Privacy and terms

What do you do with my information?

Our Privacy Policy sets out what information we collect and how it's handled, and our Terms govern your use of the site. Please note that an enquiry made through lawdbl is not legal advice and is not privileged — the Privacy Policy explains this in more detail.