Lawyer legal aid viewpoints and suggestions sought

The New Zealand Law Society has established a special section on its my.lawsociety website to enable members of the legal profession to provide input on the major changes to legal aid announced this week.

The Law Society has expressed its concern at the impact the changes will have on legal aid entitlement and on the members of the legal profession who provide legal aid.

Law Society President Jonathan Temm says concerns over the increasing costs of legal aid are valid, but the measures announced are untested and raise many issues about the rights of New Zealanders to justice and legal representation.

“Although the changes have  been flagged in a general sense, the detail has only just emerged and it is important that lawyers take time to reflect on what they expect will happen, and on whether there are alternatives to the new measures,” he says.

All New Zealand lawyers are able to provide their comments, observations, and suggestions on my.lawsociety.

© New Zealand Law Society 2008