Enduring powers of attorney regime failing to protect the vulnerable

Laws to protect people if they become mentally incapacitated are failing, the New Zealand Law Society says. And proposed changes to make it easier and cheaper to establish those protections are unlikely to work, Law Society spokesperson Dr Allan Cooke has told Parliament's Government Administration select committee. The Law Society's submission on the Statutes Amendment Bill focuses…

Law Society congratulates Dame Patsy Reddy

The New Zealand Law Society congratulates Dame Patsy Reddy on her appointment as the next Governor-General of New Zealand, Law Society President Chris Moore says. "On behalf of the legal profession I welcome the news that she has been appointed to this very important role. "The constitutional significance of Governor-General means the position must be filled by someone…

NZLS does not support ACC appeal reform proposals

The New Zealand Law Society says it cannot support any of four options proposed for reform of the ACC appeals process. In its comments to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on its discussion document Accident Compensation Appeals - options for reform, the Law Society says none of the proposals…

Auckland lawyer Donald Bruce Thomas censured

Auckland lawyer Donald Bruce Thomas has been censured by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Thomas admitted a charge of misconduct for recklessly breaching section 110 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 and regulation 12(6) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008. His misconduct arose from his release…

Trust account supervisors reminded of annual reporting requirements

The New Zealand Law Society is reminding law firm trust account supervisors of the requirements for their annual reporting process, for both trust and interest bearing deposits. Most law firms will be sending clients their RWT certificates in April. Under regulation 12(7) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008,…

Support for Official Information Act extension

The New Zealand Law Society says it supports a bill that applies the existing provisions of the Official Information Act to Parliamentary Under-Secretaries in the same way as Ministers, when acting in that official capacity. The Law Society has presented a submission to parliament's Government Administration Committee on the Official Information (Parliamentary Under-Secretaries) Amendment Bill. Spokesperson Jason McHerron says…

Ashburton lawyer numbers soar

The number of lawyers practising in Ashburton has risen by 61% over the last five years - well above the 8% growth shown for all lawyers in New Zealand over the period. The New Zealand Law Society's annual Snapshot of the Profession 2016 says other Canterbury centres such as Rangiora, Kaiapoi…

Law Society seeks solutions to underrepresentation of women

While many New Zealand law firms now take a gender-neutral approach to promoting lawyers, there is evidence that men may still receive preference in some firms, New Zealand Law Society President Chris Moore says. "It appears that men are more likely to be partners or directors in law firms than are women right from the outset. "Law…

Practising without trust account certification due

Law practices which have elected not to operate a trust account are being reminded that they need to complete their annual certification requirements. The New Zealand Law Society has contacted all such practices and is reminding them of the action they must take by 31 March 2016. All law practices that elect…

NZLS welcomes idea of different tax penalty approach

The New Zealand Law Society would welcome a different approach by Inland Revenue to penalties if it would mean changes in some of the current approaches. In its comments on the discussion document Making Tax Simpler: Towards a New Tax Administration Act, the Law Society says the document looks at a…