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Continuing Professional Development: Clearing up some common misconceptions 

The rules concerning Continuing Professional Development (CPD) apply to all lawyers, but there are some common misconceptions about them. The CPD scheme fosters lifelong learning and encourages engagement with activities beyond technical knowledge. With this flexibility, there may be some confusion about what exactly counts as a CPD activity and how…

Lawyers are responsible for the contents of court documents prepared using Generative AI

It comes as no surprise that the use of Generative AI (GenAI) has grown in Aotearoa New Zealand’s legal sector. GenAI offers much needed relief to heavy workloads and has already been adopted in day-to-day practice to generate templates, assist with legal research and analyse contracts. With more firms adopting…

Decision on lawyer’s practising certificate application

James Gardner-Hopkins’ application for a practising certificate has been approved by a New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa Practice Approval Committee (the Committee) following the end of his suspension for misconduct. The application was carefully considered and decided by a majority of the Committee. Mr Gardner-Hopkins is…

Practising certificate application: James Gardner Hopkins

James Gardner-Hopkins applied to the New Zealand Law Society Te Kahui Ture o Aotearoa for a practising certificate at the end of his suspension from practice as a lawyer for the maximum statutory period of three years in February 2022 for sexual misconduct. Mr Gardner-Hopkins was found to be a…

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Continuing Professional Development: Clearing up some common misconceptions 

The rules concerning Continuing Professional Development (CPD) apply to all lawyers, but there are some common misconceptions about them. The CPD scheme fosters lifelong learning and encourages engagement with activities beyond technical knowledge. With this flexibility, there may be some confusion about what exactly counts as a CPD activity and how…

Lawyers are responsible for the contents of court documents prepared using Generative AI

It comes as no surprise that the use of Generative AI (GenAI) has grown in Aotearoa New Zealand’s legal sector. GenAI offers much needed relief to heavy workloads and has already been adopted in day-to-day practice to generate templates, assist with legal research and analyse contracts. With more firms adopting…

Snapshot of the Profession 2025

Law Society’s annual report released

Strengthening fraud awareness and improving scam detection

Keeping festivities fun for all

Law Society statements See all

Decision on lawyer’s practising certificate application

James Gardner-Hopkins’ application for a practising certificate has been approved by a New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa Practice Approval Committee (the Committee) following the end of his suspension for misconduct. The application was carefully considered and decided by a majority of the Committee. Mr Gardner-Hopkins is…

Practising certificate application: James Gardner Hopkins

James Gardner-Hopkins applied to the New Zealand Law Society Te Kahui Ture o Aotearoa for a practising certificate at the end of his suspension from practice as a lawyer for the maximum statutory period of three years in February 2022 for sexual misconduct. Mr Gardner-Hopkins was found to be a…

New partnership offers opportunities for Law Society members

Further consultation on potential changes to legal regulation

High Court upholds misconduct finding, but reduces suspension to one month

Law Society releases a practice briefing on tikanga Māori