Felicity Blackman not to be employed by lawyers

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered that no practitioner or incorporated law firm employ Felicity Blackman in connection with the practitioner's or incorporated firm's practice. The order, pursuant to section 242(1)(h)(ii) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 was made by the tribunal on 6 June 2017.…

NZ Law Society highlights gaps in legislation updating family violence laws

The New Zealand Law Society supports proposed law changes to improve the legislative response to family violence but says further protections for family violence victims need to be included. The Law Society has presented its submission on the Family and Whānau Violence Legislation Bill to Parliament’s Justice and Electoral Committee, recommending…

New Zealand Supreme Court makes history

The Supreme Court has sat with a bench of three women and two men: the first time in New Zealand’s history that the country’s highest court has sat with a majority of women on the full bench. The recent retirement of Justice Terence Arnold from the six permanent Court members means…

Law Society releases AML/CFT preparation guidance

Lawyers need to undertake three tasks to prepare themselves for becoming "reporting entities" under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has released a Practice Briefing, Preparing for becoming a reporting entity under the AML/CFT Act. This says legislation before…

Lawyers recognised for excellence at In-house Lawyer awards

The awards recognising leadership and excellence for in-house legal services have been held, and in a rare situation a contestant took out two categories. Seven winners of the annual ILANZ In-house Lawyer Awards were announced at the 30th ILANZ Conference Gala Dinner on 26 May in Rotorua, following the national ILANZ…

Legislation removing employment protection raises concerns, NZ Law Society says

A bill allowing employees earning over $150,000 /year to contract out of the right to pursue personal grievance claims removes important protections against discrimination and harassment. The New Zealand Law Society says the Employment Relations (Allowing Higher Earners to Contract Out of Personal Grievance Provisions) Amendment Bill could result in an…

Oscar Hintze suspended from practice for 18 months

Former Auckland barrister Oscar Hintze has been suspended by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal for 18 months commencing on 29 May 2017. Mr Hintze admitted five charges of misconduct. The first four charges arose from complaints by former clients. Mr Hintze failed to provide them in advance with written…

Passing of John Chadwick saddens legal profession

The New Zealand legal profession is deeply saddened with news of the death of John Te Manihera Chadwick, New Zealand Law Society President Kathryn Beck says. “John Chadwick was the founder of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa, the Māori Law Society in 1988. He was the last Māori law graduate…

Changes needed to proposed workplace legislation, says Law Society

Proposed legislation aiming to enhance legal protections in the workplace for domestic violence victims is unclear and could result in a range of unintended consequences, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has presented its submission on the Domestic Violence – Victims’ Protection Bill to Parliament’s Justice and Electoral…

Legal practising fees and levies approved

The Minister of Justice has approved the fees and levies payable by anyone who practises law in the year to 30 June 2018. There will be a reduction in the amount which lawyers pay for regulation of the legal profession by the New Zealand Law Society. “The reduction, which is 4.4% for…