From the Law Society

Tiana Epati It’s been more than a decade since the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (the Act) came into force and during that time many issues have arisen in relation to how the legislation works in practice and the need to keep pace with modern society. By the time this issue of…

Law Society joins DIA Industry Advisory Group

The New Zealand Law Society has joined the Department of Internal Affairs' Industry Advisory Group (IAG). The department has established this forum as a communication pathway with representatives of the sectors it supervises under the AML/CFT regime. The Law Society says it welcomes this initiative by the department. The IAG meets quarterly…

Proposed terrorism suppression 'control orders' being rushed, says Law Society

The New Zealand Law Society says the proposed terrorism suppression ‘control orders’ legislation is being rushed through Parliament with inadequate justification and insufficient scrutiny. The Law Society has presented its submission on the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill to Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade select committee and has recommended a…

Separations highlight problems in family law, relationship property report says

People in their forties and in relationships of between 10 to 20 years are most likely to separate, with three-quarters of New Zealanders getting divorced because they fell out of love, according to the New Zealand Relationship Property Survey 2019. Extra-marital affairs were the second main cause, followed by unreasonable behaviour.…

Pastoral Care Bill being rushed, needs further investigation says Law Society

A bill addressing gaps in the pastoral care of domestic tertiary students is being rushed through the legislative process without adequate analysis, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has presented its submission on the Education (Pastoral Care) Amendment Bill to Parliament’s Education and Workforce Select Committee today. The…

John Campion suspended from practice for two years

Former Hamilton lawyer John Campion has been suspended by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal from practising for two years from 17 October 2019. Mr Campion had been found guilty of unsatisfactory conduct by the Tribunal on 19 July 2019 ([2019] NZLCDT 20). There were three sets of charges,…

NZ Law Society to commission comprehensive review

The New Zealand Law (NZLS) is to commission an independent review of its structure and function, the Society’s President Tiana Epati has announced. Ms Epati says the decision to commission the review had been made by its Board, and endorsed by its Council, at meetings last week and it will consider…

Greater clarity in new arms legislation sought by Law Society

How amendments to the Arms Act intersect with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act needs to be carefully considered, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has made a submission to the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the second tranche of amendments to the Arms Act 1983. It…

Queenstown lawyer fined $15,000 and censured after criminal convictions

A Queenstown lawyer has been fined $15,000 and censured by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal, after receiving two criminal convictions. Adam McAra Copland was convicted in July 2018 for driving with excess breath alcohol and disqualified from driving for six months as part of his sentence. However, in…

Law Society welcomes methamphetamine guideline decision

The New Zealand Law Society has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision in Zhang v R [2019] NZCA 507, updating sentencing guidelines in methamphetamine cases. The Law Society was one of the organisations which the Court of Appeal invited to intervene. James Rapley QC and Esther Watt appeared on behalf of both…