The committee will help to co-ordinate lawyers from around New Zealand that have volunteered to provide advice and assistance to anyone in Christchurch with an urgent legal matter.

This will operate in tandem with a website that will provide news and information and a directory of assistance offered by the New Zealand legal profession.

The website also includes information on foreign national visa extensions, computer and laptop donations and a lawyers support fund.

Law Society president Jonathan Temm has spoken to a number of lawyers and firm representatives to provide contact points for anyone who might need legal assistance and for any Christchurch-based lawyers whose families might also be in need of help.

He said the Law Society has been overwhelmed by lawyers offering assistance.

"Since advising New Zealand lawyers to contact us if they are able to help, we have been answering phone calls and emails non-stop," he said.

Australian lawyers have also offered to help, with representatives from bodies that offered free legal assistance to Queensland flood victims contacting the NZ Law Society to help establish a pro bono service

The website can be accessed at www.lawsociety.org.nz/home/earthquake_assistance