A former lawyer has been found guilty of a charge of misconduct and suspended from practising for three years.

Jeanne Denham has appeared before the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal.

She was found to have used legal processes for an improper purpose.

Ms Denham had made a complaint of assault to the New Zealand Police against her former husband which resulted in a written warning to him.

She then pursued through to trial a private prosecution for male assaults female to cause unnecessary embarrassment to him and the school he was principal of.

The Disciplinary Tribunal stated that the public must be able to be clear that when a lawyer issues proceedings he or she would only do so for proper purposes and in a considered and ethical way.

“We consider that this practitioner, Ms Denham has fallen well below that standard and in doing so has tarnished the reputation of the profession,” the Tribunal said.