Independent inquiry confirms urgency of culture change, says Law Society

The New Zealand Law Society says an independent inquiry into alleged sexual assaults and harassment at law firm Russell McVeagh highlights the urgent need for cultural reform across the legal profession. Dame Margaret Bazley today released her report into allegations of sexual assault and harassment at Russell McVeagh. Law Society President Kathryn…

Rule of law threatened in Nauru

Legislation recently passed in Nauru shows the country is sliding towards authoritarianism, with the rule of law threatened, the New Zealand Law Society says. “The recently enacted Administration of Justice Act 2018 is another clear sign of the deterioration of civil rights in Nauru,” says the Law Society’s Rule of Law…

Working group provides update on its focus

Lawyers are being asked by an independent Working Group to provide ideas on how the complaints regulatory framework could be improved.  The Group has been established by the New Zealand Law Society and is chaired by Dame Silvia Cartwright.   The aim is to ensure the rules and laws are ‘fit for…

Practising certificate renewals required by end of June

With just days to go before the end of the practising year, 93% of New Zealand's lawyers have completed the requirements to renew their practising certificates for the 2018/19 year. Lawyers who wish to practise from 1 July 2018 must renew their practising certificate before midnight on Saturday, 30 June. New Zealand…

New information requirements for law firm clients from 1 July

Clients of law firms will be required to provide certain information on their identity and address after 1 July. In some cases they will also be required to give details of the source of their funds. Anti-money laundering measures for lawyers come into force on 1 July. From then, the Anti-Money Laundering…

Removal of conveyancing burden welcomed

Lawyers involved in conveyancing will be delighted with recommended changes to a bill introducing greater limitations on property purchases by overseas buyers, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Finance and Expenditure select committee has released its final report on the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill, with a recommendation that the bill…

Lawyers give thousands of hours in voluntary work

Lawyers throughout New Zealand provide thousands of hours of free legal advice to a wide range of groups and individuals, and are among those being recognised for their voluntary work this week. It’s National Volunteer Week and figures show that each year 1.2 million Kiwis volunteer their time to various causes. Many…

Taskforce volunteer applications close on 12 June

Applications from lawyers and former lawyers who want to participate in a taskforce to drive and guide systems and culture change within the legal profession close at noon on Tuesday, 12 June. The Law Society is committed to targeting and eliminating the culture of bullying and harassment which exists in some…

Law Society asks critics to make their anger and disappointment a strong force for change

The President of the New Zealand Law Society Kathryn Beck says that she wants to be clear that the Law Society was aware of sexual harassment and bullying in the profession, but that it was shocked at the scale of the problem as detailed in its survey. Ms Beck says she…

Commitment to tackle cultural crisis within legal profession

A comprehensive survey of the New Zealand legal profession shows nearly one third of female lawyers have been sexually harassed during their working life and more than half of all lawyers have been bullied at some time in their working life. The New Zealand Law Society commissioned Colmar Brunton to carry…