Support fund for quake affected lawyers
Lawyers wanting to support their Canterbury colleagues who are facing stress and hardship after the earthquake are being encouraged to donate to a support fund.
New Zealand Law Society Vice-President Anne Stevens has organised a special account to be set up under the umbrella of the Society’s Canterbury-Westland Branch benevolent fund. The benevolent fund is a charitable fund that exists to help lawyers facing hardship and the special account is specifically for helping lawyers affected by the earthquake.
Lawyers in Canterbury have been affected both at work and in their personal lives by the earthquake. Many law firm offices have been forced to close with damage to buildings and offices disrupted. Some still remain closed whereas others are back operating already or working out of temporary premises.
Demand for legal services has continued since the earthquake and most firms have been providing these. At the same time, however, many lawyers have had damage to their own residences.
Malcolm Ellis, Branch Manager of the Canterbury-Westland branch, says the ongoing shocks are keeping people on edge.
"Nerves are already frayed – now we are reacting to trucks and buses rolling down the street because you associate that sound with earthquakes."
Lawyers who wish to support their colleagues in Canterbury may make deposits directly to The No 2 account SBS 031355 0561709 00- Canterbury Lawyers EQ Fund. This account is independent of branch Council control and is presided over by three non-Council member trustees (John Woodward, Rachel Duningham and David Lang). The trustees are guided by the views of the current council on any application.