New Zealand Law Society - Law Society statements

Law Society statements

Aaron Rodney Nicholls suspended from practice on an interim basis

The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) has suspended Auckland lawyer Aaron Rodney Nicholls from practice on an interim basis from 17 April 2024. The Standards Committee sought an interim suspension order in respect of Mr Nicholls after laying charges which alleged misappropriation of client funds and deceitful conduct.

Proposed terrorism suppression 'control orders' being rushed, says Law Society

The New Zealand Law Society says the proposed terrorism suppression ‘control orders’ legislation is being rushed through Parliament with inadequate justification and insufficient scrutiny. The Law Society has presented its submission on the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill to Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade select committee and has recommended a…

Separations highlight problems in family law, relationship property report says

People in their forties and in relationships of between 10 to 20 years are most likely to separate, with three-quarters of New Zealanders getting divorced because they fell out of love, according to the New Zealand Relationship Property Survey 2019. Extra-marital affairs were the second main cause, followed by unreasonable behaviour.…

Pastoral Care Bill being rushed, needs further investigation says Law Society

A bill addressing gaps in the pastoral care of domestic tertiary students is being rushed through the legislative process without adequate analysis, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has presented its submission on the Education (Pastoral Care) Amendment Bill to Parliament’s Education and Workforce Select Committee today. The…

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John Campion suspended from practice for two years

Former Hamilton lawyer John Campion has been suspended by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal from practising for two years from 17 October 2019. Mr Campion had been found guilty of unsatisfactory conduct by the Tribunal on 19 July 2019 ([2019] NZLCDT 20). There were three sets of charges,…
NZ Law Society to commission comprehensive review

NZ Law Society to commission comprehensive review

The New Zealand Law (NZLS) is to commission an independent review of its structure and function, the Society’s President Tiana Epati has announced. Ms Epati says the decision to commission the review had been made by its Board, and endorsed by its Council, at meetings last week and it will consider…

Greater clarity in new arms legislation sought by Law Society

How amendments to the Arms Act intersect with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act needs to be carefully considered, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has made a submission to the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the second tranche of amendments to the Arms Act 1983. It…

Law Society welcomes methamphetamine guideline decision

The New Zealand Law Society has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision in Zhang v R [2019] NZCA 507, updating sentencing guidelines in methamphetamine cases. The Law Society was one of the organisations which the Court of Appeal invited to intervene. James Rapley QC and Esther Watt appeared on behalf of both…

NZ Law Society recommends changes to Abortion Legislation Bill

The New Zealand Law Society has recommended that the select committee reviewing the Abortion Legislation Bill consider changes. These would ensure that provisions relating to ’safe areas‘ are workable and protections regarding conscientious objection rights are consistent with both the Human Rights Act and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The…

Queenstown lawyer fined $15,000 and censured after criminal convictions

A Queenstown lawyer has been fined $15,000 and censured by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal, after receiving two criminal convictions. Adam McAra Copland was convicted in July 2018 for driving with excess breath alcohol and disqualified from driving for six months as part of his sentence. However, in…

Murray Bryce Lawes suspended from legal practice

Orewa lawyer Murray Bryce Lawes has been suspended by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal from practising for three months from 8 October 2019. In a decision on liability on 19 July 2019 the Tribunal had found him guilty of two charges of misconduct. The first related to management…

Law Society supports ‘Lawyers for Lawyers’ position on threatened criminal justice lawyers

The New Zealand Law Society is supporting the organisation ‘Lawyers for Lawyers’ which stands up for lawyers who are threatened or are hindered in their criminal justice work. The issue is rapidly becoming a global problem, and the Law Society has recently supported two statements condemning violence against lawyers. ‘Lawyers for Lawyers’…

Appeal by Auckland lawyer against suspensions and costs dismissed

An appeal by an Auckland lawyer against a decision of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal which imposed a 15 month suspension from practising law and costs has been dismissed by the High Court. Jinyue (Paul) Young was last year found guilty of four charges by the Disciplinary Tribunal at different…
150 years on

150 years on

Tiana EpatiOn 3 September, the Law Society will arrive at exactly 150 years since it was first organised under the New Zealand Law Society’s Act 1869. I could go on about the detailed history, and what happened in 1897. I could talk about the fact that in that year, not…
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