Legislation removing employment protection raises concerns, NZ Law Society says

A bill allowing employees earning over $150,000 /year to contract out of the right to pursue personal grievance claims removes important protections against discrimination and harassment. The New Zealand Law Society says the Employment Relations (Allowing Higher Earners to Contract Out of Personal Grievance Provisions) Amendment Bill could result in an…

Oscar Hintze suspended from practice for 18 months

Former Auckland barrister Oscar Hintze has been suspended by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal for 18 months commencing on 29 May 2017. Mr Hintze admitted five charges of misconduct. The first four charges arose from complaints by former clients. Mr Hintze failed to provide them in advance with written…

Passing of John Chadwick saddens legal profession

The New Zealand legal profession is deeply saddened with news of the death of John Te Manihera Chadwick, New Zealand Law Society President Kathryn Beck says. “John Chadwick was the founder of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa, the Māori Law Society in 1988. He was the last Māori law graduate…

NZLS gives guidance on declarations at practising certificate renewal

  The New Zealand Law Society has provided guidance on the declaration which all lawyers are required to make when renewing their practising certificate each year. The renewal process for the next practising year, which runs from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 has commenced. All lawyers are required to make an…

Changes needed to proposed workplace legislation, says Law Society

Proposed legislation aiming to enhance legal protections in the workplace for domestic violence victims is unclear and could result in a range of unintended consequences, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has presented its submission on the Domestic Violence – Victims’ Protection Bill to Parliament’s Justice and Electoral…

Legal practising fees and levies approved

The Minister of Justice has approved the fees and levies payable by anyone who practises law in the year to 30 June 2018. There will be a reduction in the amount which lawyers pay for regulation of the legal profession by the New Zealand Law Society. “The reduction, which is 4.4% for…

One month suspension for Robert John Latton

Auckland barrister Robert John Latton has been suspended for one month commencing on 29 May 2017 by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Latton admitted a charge of misconduct before the Tribunal. This arose in circumstances where his client instructed him to send a letter proposing terms of settlement…

NZLS issues good practice for looking after client's bank account

A new New Zealand Law Society Practice Briefing recommends good practices for law firms to follow when they are operating controlled bank accounts. Looking after a client's bank account says an example of a controlled bank account is where a lawyer holds a power of attorney for an impaired client and…

Law Society questions Anti-Money Laundering legislation implementation date

January 2019 is a far more realistic date than July 2018 for bringing lawyers into the requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism legislation, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has presented a submission on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill…

Law Society widens focus on lawyer diversity

The New Zealand Law Society says it is now asking all applicants for a practising certificate to state their ethnicity. The Law Society has collected information on ethnicity since 2009, but it has been voluntary. At present 44% of New Zealand’s 12,800 lawyers have not provided information on their ethnicity. Writing in…