Conduct unbecoming. Aggressive and verbally abusive behaviour

This is a summary of a decision on a transitional complaint received before 1 August 2008. The decision was made by a Lawyers Standards Committee set up to carry out the duties and exercise the powers that a district disciplinary tribunal exercised under the Law Practitioners Act 1982. This summary was published in LawTalk 742.

A lawyer pleaded guilty to two charges of conduct unbecoming a barrister or solicitor. The Standards Committee found that the lawyer visited a client (or former client) and attempted to persuade him in an aggressive and intimidatory manner to withdraw a costs complaint. It also found that the lawyer had verbally abused a former employee and her family in a public place.

The practitioner was censured on both charges, and ordered to pay a penalty of $200 and costs of $250 to the New Zealand Law Society as a contribution towards the costs and expenses of the Committee and the Society.

© New Zealand Law Society 2008