The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa (the Law Society) has commissioned an Independent Review of the statutory framework for legal services in Aotearoa New Zealand (the Review) to examine the regulation and representation of legal services in Aotearoa New Zealand, including the structure and functions of the Law Society.
The Law Society welcomes the release of the Independent Review Panel’s Discussion Document (Discussion Document).
The Discussion document is an important step in the legal profession’s work towards ensuring the Law Society is a fit-for-the-future body, ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the 2020s and beyond.
The three-member Independent Review Panel (the Panel) – Professor Ron Paterson (Chair), Jane Meares and Professor Jacinta Ruru – have held a number of initial conversations with various stakeholders throughout the profession and will now engage more broadly to ensure the full voice of the profession is heard and can be reflected in any recommendations.
The Law Society’s goal is to support the law profession and the wider community in being able to engage in the Review. To that end, we ask that members of the profession use the opportunity relevant to them to engage in the Review and that you encourage your friends and colleagues.
The Discussion Document can be read here
The consultation period has now been extended to Wednesday 31 August 2022. Click here for full details of the Consultation and how you can get involved.
The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa announced a highly experienced panel to conduct the independent review to examine the regulation and representation of legal services in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Law Society appointed Professor Ron Paterson as Chair and Jane Meares and Professor Jacinta Ruru as Members of the Independent Review Panel.
The panel members were reviewed and recommended by the Independent Steering Group, chaired by Whaimutu Dewes.
The Law Society launched the Independent Review last year on the back of two key drivers:
The Review Panel will examine whether the Law Society’s representative functions should be separated from some, or all, of our regulatory functions, how unacceptable conduct is prevented and addressed in the profession, how complaints are made and responded to and which legal services are regulated and by whom.
The Review Panel will deliver its report to the Law Society Board by the end of 2022.
Final Terms of Reference for the Independent Review of the statutory framework for legal services in Aotearoa New Zealand (the Review) have been released by the Independent Steering Group (the Steering Group).
The Terms of Reference now incorporate feedback from the public and the profession during a consultation held in April and May 2021.
Consultation confirmed the areas of scope for the Review as:
The main changes to the Terms of Reference
Te Tiriti o Waitangi, inclusion and diversity
Consideration of Te Ao Māori frameworks and inclusion and diversity has been strengthened as areas for examination within the regulatory and organisational frameworks.
Government regulation
There is now a clear distinction between direct government regulation (out of scope in accordance with the commitment to uphold the rule of law), but that consideration of an independent entity with regulatory functions such as a legal ombudsman or a tribunal is in scope.
Culture, safety, health, and wellbeing
The Review objective of the health and wellbeing of legal professionals has been extended to include a culture of safety, and to strengthen the theme of culture, safety, health, and wellbeing as an area for examination, particularly in the areas of conduct and vexatious complaints. The Review will also examine the role of the Law Society in promoting a positive workplace culture.
The Steering Group also made changes to the Terms of Reference in response to feedback to:
Feedback indicated that the proposed Terms of Reference were largely supported. An average of 73% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed across all the questions. Feedback was centred around providing greater clarity on some matters, minor wording changes, or broadening of the proposed scope.
Across all questions an average of 15% of respondents were neutral, and an average 12% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Their feedback was mainly centred on satisfaction with current arrangements, and not wishing to extend the reach of the Law Society.
The Steering Group received 624 survey responses to the proposed Terms of Reference and nine written submissions.
The Steering Group will appoint a reviewer to conduct the review.