The New Zealand Law Society has issued a new Practice Briefing, Guidelines for Suspended Lawyers.

The guidelines are intended to provide lawyers and their firms with steps that need to be taken if a suspension order is issued, a summary of conduct which suspended lawyers are not permitted to do, the procedures law practices need to follow if they seek consent to employ a suspended lawyer, and information on applying for a practising certificate once any period of suspension has ended.

In the year to 30 June 2017, 10 lawyers were suspended by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. This compared to 6 in the 2015/16 year and 14 in the 2014/15 year.