Thirty Years in the Law: Why Progress Can’t Wait Any Longer

By Stacey Shortall

When I began practising law nearly 30 years ago, I believed I was stepping into a profession that could be a powerful force for fairness and change. And in many ways, it has been. I have seen lives transformed through access to justice, communities strengthened through legal advocacy, and progress made on issues like gender equity and recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

But I also admit to disappointment. After three decades, I expected to see more progress than we have.

What I Thought Would Change

I expected that, by now, access to justice would be more equal. And that wealth and privilege would not still be the biggest predictors of who gets good legal representation. Yet every day, disadvantaged New Zealanders struggle to navigate a system that feels remote, confusing, and unaffordable.

I expected that, by now, the prison population would be smaller, fairer, and more rehabilitative. Instead, Māori remain massively over-represented, and too many children still grow up with a parent behind bars.

I expected that, by now, gender equality in the legal profession would be less contested. While women now make up around half of all lawyers, they are still under-represented in leadership roles, and too many continue to face barriers of bias, burnout, or harassment.

The Gaps We Can No Longer Excuse

• Access to Justice: Legal aid remains chronically underfunded, with many lawyers unable to afford to take cases. For those on low incomes, “equal before the law” often exists in theory, not practice.

• Prison and Inequality: Māori are 15% of the population but over 50% of the prison population. The same cycles of poverty, violence, and trauma that I saw at the start of my career are still feeding into the justice system today.

• Gender and Diversity: Women now comprise over 60% of law graduates, but fewer than 35% of partners in major firms. The pipeline is strong, but the ceiling is still there.

These aren’t just professional statistics. They represent people and families whose lives are shaped by whether the law delivers fairness or deepens inequality.

What I’ve Learned

Almost 30 years in the law has taught me that progress doesn’t just happen with time. It requires relentless commitment - from government, from the profession, and from individuals.

I have learned that the law is not just a set of rules. It is a mirror of our society’s priorities. And if the mirror still reflects inequality, then we cannot simply congratulate ourselves for incremental steps.

Why It Matters

The law should be the great equaliser. Instead, it often magnifies disadvantage. Until we face that honestly, we will continue to let down the very people who most need protection.

I still believe in the power of the law to create fairness. But belief is not enough. After nearly three decades, what I know now is that hope must be paired with action — urgent, sustained, and collective action.

A Call to Action

We must demand more. More courage to fund access to justice properly. More determination to reduce prison numbers by addressing root causes. More commitment to making our profession a place where women and diverse voices thrive at the top.

Thirty years is long enough to wait for “slow progress.” The time for excuses is over. Because in the end, the law is not just about precedent. It is about people. And they deserve better.