About LawMate
LawMate helps people find the right lawyer — and helps lawyers find the right clients — across New Zealand and Australia. It's free for clients, every lawyer is checked before they're listed, and we're upfront about exactly how we're paid.
Who we are
LawMate is run by LawMate Limited, a New Zealand company based in Christchurch. We built LawMate because finding a lawyer is often the hardest part of getting legal help: knowing which kind of lawyer you need, whether they're qualified, what they'll cost, and whether they'll actually get back to you.
We're not a law firm and we don't give legal advice. We make the introduction — the lawyers you find through LawMate are independent professionals, and your relationship is with them.
Meet the founder
Reuben Rewha
Founder, LawMate Limited
I moved from Perth to Christchurch in late 2023 and worked in security across hospitality, conferences and events, and high-end retail. It taught me how well-run businesses operate, and how much trust, discretion and clear communication matter.
I chose to build in the legal world because of my mum, who has been my biggest inspiration to get into it.
LawMate is what came out of that: a directory connecting people in New Zealand and Australia with verified lawyers. It's free for clients, and lawyers pay a flat fee — never a percentage. We're based in Christchurch, and we're starting in Christchurch and Perth.
If you're a lawyer, or you work at a community law centre, and you'd like to talk, email me directly at lawmatenz@gmail.com.
What we provide
For people who need a lawyer
Describe your problem in your own words and we'll suggest the right area of law, show verified lawyers near you, and match you with an available lawyer. You can also ask a lawyer a free question on LawMate Answers. Free, always.
For lawyers
A verified listing, client matches in your area, and a public profile that helps you get found. Your first match is free, then it's a flat monthly fee — never a share of your fees.
For law practices
Lawyers can also be matched with independent accountants, virtual assistants and cybersecurity providers who support legal practices.
What makes LawMate different
Verified before they're listed
Every lawyer's practising certificate is checked against the official register — the New Zealand Law Society, or the relevant Australian register — before they appear on LawMate.
Free for clients, flat fees for lawyers
Clients never pay us. Lawyers pay a flat monthly fee, and we never take a percentage of their fees, a settlement or an outcome — so we have no reason to steer you towards a bigger case or a pricier lawyer.
Local first
When we match you, lawyers in your own region come first. If nobody local is available, we match you with someone elsewhere and tell you so.
Honest profiles
Legal Aid, fixed-fee and rate details are marked as self-reported. Response rates come from real client check-ins, and only clients who were actually matched with a lawyer can review them.
Free answers from real lawyers
On LawMate Answers you can ask a legal question anonymously and get general answers from verified lawyers, under their own names. We check every question before it's published, to protect your privacy.
Pointing you to free help
If cost is a worry, our practice-area pages point you to free and low-cost options like Community Law Centres, community legal centres and Legal Aid.
Open about how we're paid
Our fee arrangement is published in full on our Regulatory Information page, and lawyers get ready-made wording to explain it to their clients.
Where LawMate is available
Lawyers in any of the places below can join LawMate, and people anywhere in New Zealand or Australia can send a request. We're growing city by city, starting in Christchurch and Perth, so in some places there may not be a lawyer listed yet — if there isn't, we'll tell you straight away rather than leave you waiting.
New Zealand — all 16 regions, from Northland to Southland.
Australia — New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
Working with community law centres and legal services
We'd love to work with Community Law Centres, community legal centres, Citizens Advice, courts and other community organisations across New Zealand and Australia.
Many people who come to you need a private lawyer — because they're outside your eligibility criteria, or you don't have capacity to help. LawMate gives you somewhere trustworthy to point them:
- Free for the person you refer, with no obligation
- Every lawyer checked against the official register before they're listed
- We never charge a referring organisation, and never take a share of a lawyer's fees
- Our full fee arrangement is published on our Regulatory Information page for you to review
If that sounds useful, email lawmatenz@gmail.com — we're happy to talk it through.
Get in touch
Email lawmatenz@gmail.com, or read our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Regulatory Information.