New court symbolises NZ’s core values
The Supreme Court is not just a building for the judiciary, it also symbolises the core values of New Zealand – values such as fairness, justice, democracy and an absolute rejection of corruption, Prime Minister John Key said in his speech at the opening ceremony in Wellington on 18 January. Read more.
Find a Lawyer
The NZLS Find a Lawyer service enables members of the public to search for lawyers in private practice who hold current practising certificates by area of practice, languages spoken, name and location.
Quick action on legal aid review
The NZLS has been moving quickly in response to Dame Margaret Bazley’s final report on her review of the legal aid system. Since the report’s release, NZLS President John Marshall QC has issued media statements supporting Dame Margaret’s conclusions that the legal aid system needs improving. He also noted the report reflected much of the position the NZLS had taken in its submissions to the review. It is crucial, he stressed, that changes to reform legal aid resulted in an efficient system with legal aid provided by experienced and competent lawyers.
However, Mr Marshall has also expressed concern about some of the unbalanced media reporting of Dame Margaret’s review and the disproportionate focus on the quality of legal aid providers operating at the Manukau District Court.
The NZLS has committing to working cooperatively with the Ministry of Justice to achieve improvements to the system. The Legal Services Aid Board and Ministry are already moving to effect changes as quickly as possible. The NZLS is involved in this process. Read more.
Major criminal justice reforms unveiled
The government aims to overhaul and streamline the criminal justice system through an ambitious reform package of reforms unveiled in late December by the Criminal Procedure Simplification Project, a Law Commission and Ministry of Justice joint venture. Read more.
Judicial review of executive decision-making
To what extent is it appropriate for the courts to engage in judicial review of government actions and decision-making?
That was the subject of the 2009 Lord Cooke of Thorndon Lecture delivered by Queen’s University Professor Emeritus and Victoria University graduate David Mullan in December. Read more.
Name change for legal executive course
The NZLS Legal Executive course will from this year be known as the New Zealand Law Society Legal Executive Diploma.
The change of title reflects the course’s current status as part of the New Zealand tertiary education system. Read more.
