Law Society not seeking review of unsatisfactory conduct finding

The New Zealand Law Society is not seeking a review of a finding by a lawyers standards committee that a lawyer was guilty of unsatisfactory conduct after he sexually harassed two of his law firm’s employees. The decision was published recently. The Law Society has stated its position in response to…

Lack of consultation on rustling law concerns

New Zealand Law Society President Kathryn Beck has written to the Minister of Justice to express concern that legislation creating significant new criminal offices related to livestock rustling has been progressed without the opportunity for public consultation and select committee activity. "In the Law Society's view, this is an undesirable and…

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…

Law Society focused on signing 30% of profession up to Gender Equality Charter by April

The New Zealand Law Society is renewing its push to get 30% of the legal profession signed up to its Gender Equality Charter by April. By the end of 2018, it had been adopted by 100 legal workplaces across the country. The charter was launched to the profession by the Law Society…

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…