FAQs

Yes, you do need an appointment to receive legal advice from Baywide. Call us and we can determine whether you are eligible for free advice. If you are not eligible, we can give you information and options for support.

We can make you an appointment via phone, Zoom or in-person at our offices in Tauranga and Whakatane or at our fortnightly clinics in Waihi, Katikati, Merivale, Te Puke, Kawerau and Ōpōtiki.

You can see here what to bring to your appointment “Step 3 – what should you bring”

Yes, you can bring a support person with you to an appointment. We realise that legal information can sometimes be technical or unfamiliar, so having a trusted supporter who can help may make it easier to share and remember this information.

We can make you an appointment via phone, Zoom or in-person at our offices in Tauranga and Whakatane or at our fortnightly regional clinics in Waihi, Katikati, Merivale, Te Puke, Kawerau and Ōpōtiki.

Our premises in Tauranga and Whakatāne are wheelchair accessible, and so are the premises where we hold our regional clinics.

You can contact us via email or phone to make an appointment and we will ask if you have any disabilities that we can support you with when accessing our services. If an in-person appointment is the best option for you, we can make you an appointment at our offices in Tauranga or Whakatane, or at our fortnightly clinics in Waihi, Katikati, Merivale, Te Puke, Kawerau and Opotiki. We have provided legal advice to several clients using sign language interpreters accessed through Deaf Aotearoa. Our offices in Tauranga and Whakatane are wheelchair accessible, and so are the premises where we hold our regional clinics.

Our legal services are provided free of charge. We welcome donations. If you are able to contribute any amount our donation details are here

A conflict of interest occurs when a lawyer’s duty to one person could affect their duty to another. Lawyers must always act in the best interests of their client, and we cannot do this if we are involved with the other side of a dispute or hold information that could unfairly advantage or disadvantage someone.

If a conflict exists, we are legally required not to act under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008. These rules exist to protect clients and prevent any party from being disadvantaged due to overlapping obligations.

If we advise that we cannot assist you due to a conflict of interest, please understand that this is not personal, nor is it a judgment on the merits of your situation. The rules safeguard your right to legal advice that is independent and focused solely on your best interests.

When you contact us, we will ask you to provide details of your situation and we will check whether there may be a conflict of interest. If there is a conflict of interest, we will explain the situation in general terms (without breaching anyone’s confidentiality) and, where possible, we will refer you to other lawyers or appropriate services who may be able to assist.

In some limited situations we will represent a person as their lawyer. We only do this if we have enough resources.

Representation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

We place a high emphasis on quality service and client care.  We will:

• Give you clear information and advice
• Treat you fairly, respectfully and without discrimination
• Protect your privacy
• Act competently and do the work on time
• Follow your instructions
• Protect and promote your interests
• Discuss your objectives with you and how you can best achieve them
• Tell you about the work to be done, who will do it and how they will do it
• Keep you informed about the work being done and tell you when it is finished
• Let you know how to make a complaint and deal with any complaint quickly and fairly.

If you are worried about someone finding out that you have visited this website you can find out what to do here.

No, we don’t generally provide Legal Aid services. 

Legal Aid is a scheme run by the Ministry of Justice. It’s government funding to pay for lawyers for people going to court who cannot afford a lawyer. Legal Aid is available for people facing criminal charges, and those with a civil legal problem or family dispute that may go to court, as well as for Waitangi Tribunal proceedings. Baywide Community Law, on the other hand, is an independent charity. Although we receive much of our funding from the Ministry of Justice, we are not a government agency. 

Importantly, our services are free, whereas people often have to repay some or all of their Legal Aid back to the government. If you need a lawyer and can’t afford one, you can come to us for initial free legal help first. We can then refer you to the right Legal Aid lawyer. 

More information on Legal Aid

We can refer you to a lawyer who has the right skills for your kind of legal problem. If you need a lawyer, be aware that they specialise in different areas of law. Some lawyers will charge for an initial meeting so ask about their charges first. You can also find a lawyer near you using the search tool on New Zealand Law Society

There are links to community law resources and websites of other organisations that can assist on our Resources & Articles page

We can answer questions about what you should include in your will and about the administration of estates after a person has passed away, but we cannot draft or execute a will for you.

We can answer questions about how Enduring Powers of Attorney work, but we cannot draft or execute these documents for you.

Our privacy statement explains how we collect, store and use your personal information, in compliance with the Privacy Act.