The Family Law Section was established in December 1997 to recognise the special interests of family lawyers and the growing importance of family law in New Zealand.

The FLS has:

• approximately 1000 members, who are family law practitioners, judges, legal academics, legal executives and government employees from all over New Zealand.
• an executive made up of family lawyers from throughout the country who have been elected by members.
• an advisory panel, who are appointed by the Executive to prepare draft submissions to Bills, government discussion documents and other papers that propose changes to legislation, rules or government policy.
• 33 regional representatives, who are appointed by the Executive to be the face of the FLS in their local areas and to provide an important link between the FLS membership and the Executive.