Order not to employ Terry Ann Shanks

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has made an order that no lawyer or law firm is to employ Terry Ann Shanks. A former employee of a law firm, Ms Shanks admitted misappropriation from her firm's trust account. She fraudulently obtained $10,671 through 16 transactions and used a variety of means to…

Legal and justice system encouraged and enlightened by legacy left by late Judge

The New Zealand Law Society says the legal and justice system will be both encouraged and enlightened by the generous multi-million dollar legacy left by the late Judge Ian Borrin. The retired District Court Judge died on 23 March. Before he died, Judge Borrin established a charitable trust worth between $25 and $30-million. The Michael and…

Bruce Harvey Reid struck off

Auckland lawyer Bruce Harvey Reid has been struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Reid had admitted two charges of misconduct and one charge of unsatisfactory conduct. The Tribunal had made an interim suspension order against him on 5 February 2016. The first charge of misconduct…

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…