Offender drug and alcohol testing bill lacks judicial oversight

The lack of judicial involvement in drug and alcohol testing legislation is problematic, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Drug and Alcohol Testing of Community-based Offenders and Bailees Legislation Bill enables the Department of Corrections and the Police to require some community-based offenders and people on bail to undergo drug…

More detail needed to support access to Customs information

The New Zealand Law Society believes more details and analysis of the information held by the New Zealand Customs Service is needed to better assess the potential privacy risks and harm posed by proposals to give direct access to Customs databases to enforcement agencies. The Law Society has released comments it…

NZ-based Nepalese lawyer seeks aid from legal community

Auckland lawyer Tschering Lama is asking New Zealand's legal community for donations to assist Nepal after the massive earthquake which struck the country on 25 April. The New Zealand Law Society has helped Mr Lama with contacting New Zealand lawyers to provide information about the appeals which have been set up…

Two attempted email frauds target lawyers

The New Zealand Law Society is warning lawyers about two email frauds which are targeting them at present. The Law Society says both frauds use well-established methodology and seek lawyers' assistance in recovering debts. One fraud, purportedly sent by a person called "Meny Kusumo" seeks assistance in a debt collection. The fraudster…

Outstanding CPD declarations may still be made

Lawyers who have not yet declared completion of their required Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the year to 31 March 2015 are still able to do so, the New Zealand Law Society says. At 16 April 2015, 93.5% of New Zealand’s lawyers had completed their online declaration of compliance with the…

Coronial legislation changes welcome and timely

The New Zealand Law Society says changes proposed in the Coroners Amendment Bill are welcome and timely, including changes to suicide reporting and removal of the need to hold an inquest for all deaths in custody. In its submission to Parliament's Justice and Electoral Committee on the bill, the Law Society…

Anthony Paul Blair suspended

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has suspended Anthony Paul Blair (also known as Paul Anthony Blair) from legal practice for three years from 12 March 2015. Mr Blair, who is not currently practising law, admitted a disciplinary charge of having been convicted of offences punishable by imprisonment which…

NZLS disagrees with mortgagee sale GST conclusion

The New Zealand Law Society says it does not agree that a mortgagee making zero rated supplies of financial services under the business financial services rules is not entitled to deduct input tax for costs associated with a mortgagee sale. The Law Society has released its comments to the Inland Revenue…

End of first lawyer CPD year looms

New Zealand's lawyers are nearing the end of the first year in which they have been required to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The first full CPD year ends on 31 March 2015 and all lawyers who hold a current practising certificate are required to make a declaration that they have…

Attorney-General preferred extradition central authority

The New Zealand Law Society says the Attorney-General is its preference as a central authority for extradition. In its comments on the Law Commission's issues paper Extradition and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, the Law Society says the paper is a comprehensive and clear analysis of a challenging area of law. It…