Review of sole practice attorney arrangements recommended

The New Zealand Law Society is recommending to sole practitioners that the start of 2018 is a good time to review their power of attorney arrangements. Section 44 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 requires sole practitioners to appoint an attorney and an alternate under a power of attorney which…

Law Society provides AML/CFT compliance templates

The New Zealand Law Society has released a bundle of eight sample documents to assist lawyers with compliance requirements for the introduction of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT) on 1 July 2018. Lawyers undertaking specified activities need to ensure they have a programme in place…

Support for Mental Health Roster reform objective

The New Zealand Law Society agrees with the objective of proposed reform of Mental Health Rosters by the Ministry of Justice. A ministry consultation paper, Mental Health Rosters, proposes national implementation of a referral and roster system administered by Legal Aid Services (LAS) in relation to representation of patients involved in…

Women lawyers now in the majority

The New Zealand legal profession now has more women lawyers than male lawyers. The New Zealand Law Society says that of 13,103 lawyers currently practising in New Zealand, 6553 are women and 6550 are men. “I’ve been waiting with bated breath for a couple of years. I’m thrilled that we’re here”, says…

Verify emailed payment instructions, says Law Society

Lawyers and law firm staff should ensure they check and verify all payment instructions received by email, the New Zealand Law Society says. There are now many instances of fraudsters and hackers using internal email in law firms to attempt to steal money through fake transfer requests. The Law Society says it…

Law Society issues trust account checklist

The New Zealand Law Society's latest Practice Briefing is a Checklist for practices considering opening a trust account. The checklist provides information on the requirements for operating a trust account, accounting requirements and procedures, making payments from trust accounts, deduction of fees, reporting requirements and a range of other matters which…

Appointment of Law Society Acting Executive Director

Mary Ollivier has been appointed Acting Executive Director of the New Zealand Law Society, from 15 January. She takes over from Christine Grice, who has been appointed a High Court Judge. Mary Ollivier.  Mrs Ollivier has been the Law Society’s General Manager Regulatory since the role was established following major changes to…

Former Napier lawyer struck off the roll

A lawyer who had been suspended from practising for the past year has been struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors. Last year Richard Henry Hill was found guilty in the Hastings District Court of a charge of criminal breach of trust. This related to offending in his capacity as…

New Zealand Law Society hours over 2017/18 holiday break

National Office (26 Waring Taylor Street, Wellington 6011). The New Zealand Law Society's national office is closed for the holiday break from 5pm Friday, 22 December 2017 until 8:30am, Monday, 8 January 2018. New Zealand Law Society branches All Law Society branch offices are closed for the holiday break as follows: Auckland: Closes at 5pm…

ACC vision still not achieved after fifty years

The vision unveiled fifty years ago by the Woodhouse Report is something to celebrate, but the accident compensation system which eventuated presents some very real access to justice issues, the New Zealand Law Society says. On 13 December 1967 the Royal Commission on “Compensation for Personal Injury in New Zealand” reported…