Reminder on need for junior counsel practising certificates

The Chief Justice has written to the President of the New Zealand Law Society to ask for practitioners to be reminded of their responsibilities under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 to ensure that junior counsel hold current practising certificates or else to seek appropriate dispensation. Dame Sian Elias says the…

Positive feedback for draft legal aid application form

Feedback from lawyers indicates a consensus that a draft new family and civil legal aid application form is much clearer and more user-friendly, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has provided comments to the Ministry of Justice on the draft form, which will combine five current application forms…

Women’s Suffrage Day an opportunity to reflect on gender diversity in the legal profession

The legal profession is being encouraged to acknowledge Women’s Suffrage Day as an ideal time to review and reflect on gender diversity and inclusion in the work place. Tuesday marked 124 years since women gained the right to vote in New Zealand. Following the women’s suffrage petition, on September 19, 1893 a…

New Zealand Law Society to introduce charter to better advance women in law

Lawyers are encouraged to comment on a draft Gender Diversity and Inclusion Charter being developed for the legal profession. The charter is an initiative of the Law Society’s Women’s Advisory Panel that was set up to look at ways to support the retention and advancement of women in the legal profession. “Gender…

Father's Day a timely reminder that workplace flexibility available to men too

It’s Father’s Day this weekend (Sunday, 3 September) and the New Zealand Law Society is reminding law firms that workplace flexibility is also available to men. 18-weeks Paid Parental Leave (PPL) is a government funded entitlement paid to eligible mothers and other primary carers such as adoptive parents, Home for Life…

Law Society issues handy compliance summary

A proliferation of international agreements relating to finance and taxation has increased the compliance workload for law firms. The use of acronyns such as AML/CFT, AEOI/CRS and FATCA for these has not necessarily made it easy for lawyers to develop a clear view of the new requirements. The New Zealand Law…

Integrated domestic violence court merits further investigation

Further investigation of a proposed "integrated domestic violence court" has merit, although the proposal presents some difficulties, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has communicated its comments on the Law Foundation-funded discussion paper One Court, One Judge - an integrated court system for New Zealand families affected by…

Unsatisfactory conduct finding for Whangarei lawyer

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has found a charge of unsatisfactory conduct against Whangarei lawyer Elizabeth Ann Gardner to be proven. Ms Gardner was found to have negligently made errors in the drafting of a family trust deed by failing to create a life interest in assets for…

NZLS calls for pre-1908 extension of expungement of homosexual offences

The New Zealand Law Society is recommending an amendment be made to the Criminal Records (Expungement of Convictions for Historical Homosexual Offences) Bill to cover all historical offences. In June, Justice Minister Amy Adams introduced the Criminal Records (Expungement of Convictions for Historical Homosexual Offences) Bill to Parliament. The bill provides for historic…

Proposed legal aid audit changes supported

The New Zealand Law Society says it supports the objective of minor changes proposed to the legal aid audit policy, of improving efficiency and adding value to the legal aid audit programme. The Law Society has provided comments on a Ministry of Justice consultation document, Proposed changes to the legal aid…