Jim Rowe, long-serving lay member of the New Zealand Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, died on 29 September 2007 aged 79.

Appointed to the tribunal in 1992, Jim served for more than 15 years, stepping down only recently.

Every member of the tribunal found Jim's presence invaluable, John Upton QC said, when speaking on behalf of the tribunal at the funeral service.

"It is very easy for a group of lawyers meeting together to get bogged down in arcane legal debate. Jim always injected commonsense into our discussions. He was not intrusive or dominating in debate.

"In fact, if anything, he had a slightly hesitant presentation. But behind that was a formidable intellect. Jim would quickly bring us lawyers back to the real world," John Upton said.

Another long-serving tribunal member and former chair, Nigel Hampton QC, also paid tribute to Jim Rowe.

"He brought a refreshing clear-headedness and common sense to the tribunal's discussions and decisions, which meant that they never spilled over into talkfests on arcane legalisms," he said.

As well being a senior lecturer in economics at Victoria University, Jim Rowe was the third Director of the NZ Institute of Economic Research, research director of the New Zealand Bankers' Association and was CEO of the New Zealand Employers' and Manufacturers' Federation. He was President of Volunteer Service Abroad for 23 years, after being involved with the organisation since its early days as a university volunteer graduate scheme.

He was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 1998 for his services to economics and the community.

This obituary was first published in LawTalk 698, 29 October 2007.