2019 a year to move forward positively

New Zealand's lawyers should make 2019 a year of commitment to civility, caring and connection, New Zealand Law Society President Kathryn Beck says. Writing in the February issue of the Law Society's magazine LawTalk, Ms Beck says becoming a lawyer is hard work, and practising law is also hard. Kathryn Beck. "A…

Review of billing practices needed by some NZ firms

The New Zealand Law Society says its inspectors have noted that a number of law firms need to review their billing practices to ensure that their billing is open and transparent. The Law Society says an office service fee or expense recovery which is not an actual cost to a law…

Law Society publishes standards committee sexual harassment determination

The New Zealand Law Society has published a determination by a lawyers standards committee in which the committee investigated a law firm partner who sexually harassed two of the firm’s employees. The conduct occurred at firm social events and resulted in the partners deciding to remove the lawyer from the partnership.…

Non-disclosure agreement cannot prevent complaints to Law Society

The New Zealand Law Society says it believes that settlement or non-disclosure agreements between law firms and employees cannot prevent a person from making a complaint to the Law Society. “An agreement which seeks to prohibit a person from exercising their right to complain to the Law Society in return for…

Frederick William Baker struck off roll of barristers and solicitors

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered that Auckland lawyer Frederick William Baker be struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors. Mr Baker had pleaded guilty to a number of charges which related to the use of client funds from his firm’s trust account to pay debts…

New Zealand Law Society congratulates Justice Winkelmann

The New Zealand Law Society has congratulated the Hon Justice Helen Winkelmann on her appointment as Chief Justice of New Zealand and as a Judge of the Supreme Court. “Justice Winkelmann has had an impressive career in legal practice and on the bench,” New Zealand Law Society President Kathryn…

Law Society plans changes to regulatory process for lawyers accused of inappropriate behaviour

The New Zealand Law Society is planning a number of changes to the processes for reporting and taking action on sexual harassment and bullying in the legal profession. These include: New rules for lawyers which specifically require high personal and professional standards with specific reference to sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and other…

Regulatory working group report to be presented

The New Zealand Law Society’s Board will tomorrow (Friday, 14 December) consider the report of the independent working group which has been investigating whether regulatory change is required to address unacceptable behaviour in the legal profession. The working group chair, Dame Silvia Cartwright, will present the group’s report and recommendations to…

New Queen's Counsel congratulated

The New Zealand Law Society has extended its congratulations to the members of the legal profession who have been appointed Queen’s Counsel. “Appointment as Queen’s Counsel is recognition of excellence at the highest level. It is an honour which is hard to achieve. Since 1907 there have been many thousands of…

Law Society's Gender Equality Charter hits 100 signatories

The New Zealand Law Society’s Gender Equality Charter has now been adopted by 100 legal workplaces across the country. The charter was launched to the profession by the Law Society in April this year. 100 signatories represents over 2700 lawyers of the about 13300 that hold practising certificates in New Zealand. Law Society…