NSW expertise provides invaluable help with LCA implementation
THE NZLS has leveraged off the experience of its New South Wales counterpart in developing the registry and complaints systems for Lawyers & Conveyancers Act implementation with the secondment of the New South Wales Law Society’s administration manager for the Professional Standards Department, Jennifer Platt.
For six weeks earlier this year, Jennifer joined the NZLS implementation team working on the new registry/database functions and complaints administration. Her second visit for two weeks in May was to test the complaints part of the database and to help set up complaints-handling processes.
Her contribution has been greatly valued by the NZLS, says the society’s Deputy Executive Director, Rae Mazengarb. "Jennifer has contributed significantly to our preparation work relating to the new registry/database functions and our complaints administration.
"Jennifer came armed with the right knowledge and experience to slot straight in and was able to suggest a number of important enhancements for our system which had not previously been picked up.
"I think the secondment exercise has been a real example of trans-Tasman co-operation at its best," Rae says.
Experience in helping implement new legislation regulating lawyers was an important dimension of the wide range of skills and background Jennifer brought to New Zealand.
As part of the implementation of the new NSW legislation three years ago, Jennifer was involved in developing and implementing internal processes and procedures to comply with the requirements of the new law.
Jennifer, who has an arts degree in psychology and a keen interest in statistics and business processes, has been at the NSW Law Society for 16 years.
There are some 21,000 currently practising solicitors in NSW and the Professional Standards Department at the Law Society of NSW has the regulatory responsibility of investigating complaints against solicitors.
As well as managing an administration support staff of six, Jennifer’s roles include the design and development of databases, verification and maintenance of the data collected by the department, management reporting and providing the NSW Attorney-General with an annual statistical analysis of the department’s functions, as required under the Legal Profession Act.
The story behind her visits to New Zealand began when Rae Mazengarb visited the NSW Law Society some four years ago when it looked likely New Zealand was heading towards new legislation to regulate lawyers.
Rae was interested in studying the NSW model, particularly in terms of regulatory function.
That visit led to Jennifer crossing the Tasman in the opposite direction to assist with implementation of the legislation here.
During her two visits, she has worked closely with NZLS Registry Manager Margaret Steel, Complaints Manager Mary Ollivier and IT Manager Malcolm Gunn.
"I see this as a chance to promote trans-Tasman co-operation – working together and sharing information and experiences," Jennifer says. "As a close neighbour with many issues in common, it’s good to promote these kinds of things.
"I have very much enjoyed my time here. The work has been stimulating and challenging and the people very welcoming and hospitable. The NZLS has worked hard on the immense task of implementing the new legislation and I am happy to have been a part of that project. I have felt very much part of the team," she says.
"I have made the most of my free time here in New Zealand, putting my hobby of photography to good use.
"The whole experience has been a very positive one for me personally as well. It has opened up possibilities for me and confirmed the type of work I would like to focus on in the future.
"The Law Society of New South Wales has been very encouraging and supportive of my being here, it’s been a valuable experience for everyone involved," Jennifer says.