Lawyering in a Startup: What, why and how

Lawyering in a Startup: What, why and how
Public workshop

Ever wondered what it’s really like to be a lawyer in a startup?

Picture it. It’s your first day. There’s a swag bag on your desk with a block of Whittaker’s, a book and a pair of green shoes. There’s a MacBook on your desk with Slack, Gmail, Notion and HubSpot. You’re the first lawyer the company has ever had and everyone from the founder down is thrilled you’re there. By lunchtime your inbox is full.

Join us for this in-person CPD series where GCs and Heads of Legal from New Zealand’s fastest-growing startups share what the job is really like. You’ll hear how they work day to day (the good, the chaotic and the brilliant), and how they’re using AI at the cutting edge of legal practice. Most importantly, you’ll find out how to make the move into a startup career if it’s something you’re curious about.

What we’ll cover

• Welcome: swag bags and green shoes

• The first lawyer through the door (what’s in the drawer, and what isn’t)

• A day in the inbox (live triage)

• Runway, raises and pivots (learning the business fast)

• Decisions on imperfect information

• Q&A

Learning objectives
By the end of the session, you’ll have:

• An initial understanding of what a startup lawyer does and how the role differs from other legal roles

• An awareness of what to look for when you’re the first lawyer in a startup

• A first look at the types of requests a startup lawyer handles, and how they’re prioritised

• An introduction to how a startup’s runway, funding and direction shape legal work

• An appreciation of what it means to advise when information is incomplete

• A sense of whether a startup career might suit you, and the possible pathways in

Who it’s for?
Any in-house lawyer who is startup-curious.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday 12 November 2026

• Time: 12:30pm - 2:00pm | 1 hour CPD

• Location: Tracksuit, 34/38 Drake Street, Auckland 1010

• Event Type: In person
  Free for KiwiSaaS members, non-members and invited guests.

Spaces are limited. Register now.

Presented by Startup Lawyers NZ and KiwiSaaS