Four lawyers are among 15 people reappointed to six Tertiary Education Institution councils by Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce.

Sarah Brown has been reappointed as Chair of the Southern Institute of Technology council. Mrs Brown was appointed Chair in 2011 and has served as a council appointee since 2006. Admitted in May 2000, she is currently an Associate with Christchurch law firm Tavendale & Partners, specialising in general commercial and rural based legal work.

Peter Kiely has been reappointed to the council of the University of Auckland. Admitted in February 1982, he was a founding partner in Auckland law firm Kiely Thompson Caisley and practises in employment law and industrial relations. In 1999 he was appointed Adjunct Professor of Employment Law at Victoria University of Wellington. Mr Kiely is the Honorary Consul for the Slovak Republic.

Michael Morgan has been reappointed as Deputy Chair of the council of the Eastern Institute of Technology. Mr Morgan was admitted in January 1986 and has been a partner of Napier law firm Carlile Dowling since 2001. He practises in commercial and business law, trusts and asset planning and protection. Mr Morgan is a past President of the Hawke's Bay District Law Society.

Ben Vanderkolk has been reappointed to the council of Massey University. Mr Vanderkolk was admitted in December 1982 and has been Crown Solicitor in Palmerston North with his firm Ben Vanderkolk & Associates since 1987. His firm conducts private and commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation. Mr Vanderkolk has served on the New Zealand Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and the Faculty of the New Zealand Law Society Litigation Skills Programme.