Partner

Bernadette O’Connor

Bernadette is the Crown Solicitor for Northland. She joined MWIS in 2003 and became Partner in 2013. She is a Senior Crown Prosecutor. Bernadette holds a LLB/BA from Auckland University.

A specialist in all aspects of criminal prosecution, Bernadette has conducted numerous jury trials in the High Court and District Courts. She prosecutes serious crime, including long-cause trials and homicides.

Bernadette also manages the Whangarei District Court and Kaikohe District Court jury trial jurisdictions, overseeing all District Court jury trial prosecutions, liaising with the Court, Police and Defence Counsel and conducting trial callovers in those Courts. Within the office Bernadette is responsible for the management and supervision of the Crown Prosecution Team.

Bernadette was on faculty for the highly rewarding NZLS Litigation Skills Course in 2013 and 2014, a week-long course held at Lincoln University where participants “learn by doing” and receive critique from faculty members on the core advocacy and litigation skills which are practised. Bernadette is a member of the International Association of Prosecutors

Raised in Whangarei, outside of work Bernadette is involved with the Catholic Church and enjoys scuba diving.