New Zealand Law Society - Advocacy in Action

Advocacy in Action

Vicki Morrison-Shaw - Environmental Law Committee

Matakana-based barrister and commissioner Vicki Morrison-Shaw originally joined the Environmental Law Committee as a way of keeping herself across developments in the law - since the role of the committee is to make submissions on proposed changes to environmental and resource management legislation.  But in the nine years she’s been involved…

Law Society makes recommendations to improve Fast-track Approvals Bill

The Law Society has made a submission to the Environment Select Committee on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, raising concerns about how the fast-track approval process appears to be inconsistent with constitutional principles and good regulatory practice.
Attacks on judges risk weakening the justice system

Attacks on judges risk weakening the justice system

Attacks on judges risk weakening the justice system. Opinion Piece by Frazer Barton, President of the New Zealand Law Society - In defense of the judiciary.

Costs of Practice report released

Lawyers are not immune from the increased costs experienced by New Zealanders in recent years and have been subject to operational cost increases well above the rate of inflation. In the last three years alone, the operational costs of running a legal practice have increased by 15.3% each year. 

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Law Society sounds warning over proposed ram raid legislation

The Law Society’s Youth Justice Committee convenor Dale Lloyd says criminalising ram raid offending by children and young people is inconsistent with children’s rights.

Access to justice impacted by proposed repeal of sentencing report funding

Yesterday’s announcement that the Government will introduce legislation withdrawing funding for "cultural reports”, will significantly limit access to justice, the New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa says.

Letters to incoming Ministers

The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has written to several incoming Ministers about some of our key law reform priorities:

Law Society concerned about the use of urgency to repeal resource management legislation

Today the Government has passed under urgency, legislation to repeal the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBEA) and Spatial Planning Act (SPA) without referral to a select committee. The Government has also stated its intention to suspend the requirement for a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) to be completed where proposals…

Evidence Act 2006 – misconceptions and Example Directions – NZLS feedback

In August 2023, Te Kura Kaiwhakawā Institute of Judicial Studies published Example Directions responding to misconceptions on sexual offending. The Example Directions are intended to “provide guidance for judges and lawyers as the first cases came to court that were required to take section 126A of the Evidence Act 2006…

Update on delays in probate processing

Over the past few months, lawyers have provided us with feedback and concerns about delays in the processing of probate applications. We have raised these concerns with the Registrar and Court manager, including the suggestion of increasing the threshold for requiring probate or letters of administration before a deceased’s funds…

Proposed ram raid offence in breach of children’s rights

A new bill intended to specifically target ram raid offending by children and young people, is inconsistent with children’s rights, says Law Society spokesperson Dale Lloyd. The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa recently made a written submission to the Justice Select Committee opposing the Ram Raid…

Costs of practice survey released

A survey looking at the costs of running a legal practice has been sent to all law firms, sole practitioners, and barristers across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Court appointed Counsel Remuneration Working Group established – Ministry of Justice and Law Society

In February 2020, the Law Society’s Family Law Section wrote to the Minister of Justice seeking an urgent review of court appointed remuneration rates (which had remained unchanged for nearly 25 years) and consideration of a formal mechanism to regularly review and negotiate all court appointed counsel remuneration rates in…

Law Society welcomes changes to Standing Orders

Parliament’s Standing Orders Committee has published its report on the 2023 review of the Standing Orders. The report recommends a number of amendments to the Standing Orders, which were adopted by Parliament last week.
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