From the Law Society

I would like to thank the profession and the New Zealand Law Society Council for giving me the unique opportunity of being the Law Society president for the last three years. In the 142 years of the New Zealand Law Society’s history only 28 people have served as president. I…

Auckland student mediators among the best

Auckland University achieved second place overall in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Mediation Competition held in Paris last month. The Auckland team also won the prize for the best mediation advocacy skills. This is the first time a New Zealand team has competed in the global event. The team of…

Financial assistance to attend education on the Criminal Procedure Act

New Zealand Law Society President Jonathan Temm says he is very pleased to announce that the Law Society has secured from the Ministry of Justice a generous contribution to assist criminal lawyers in private practice to attend the NZLS CLE Criminal Procedure Act Intensive to be held in the five…

Law Reform Report

Recent submissions:The Law Society recently filed submissions on: Criminal Procedure Act 2011 – Ministry of Justice consultation on changes to criminal fixed fee schedules; IRD - Review of the Thin Capitalisation Rules; Joint regulatory scheme for therapeutic products under ANZTPA; Joint and Several Liability – Law Commission Issues Paper; Review of the Licensed Immigration Advisers Code of…

Government’s proposed changes to the Family Court puts children at risk

The New Zealand Law Society says children’s voices will be lost if the Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill stays in its current form. Law Society President Jonathan Temm told the Justice and Electoral Select Committee that the bill makes some positive changes for resolving family disputes, such as the proposal for…

Aspects of prisoner compensation claims bill unnecessary

The New Zealand Law Society believes that aspects of a bill restricting prisoners’ ability to obtain compensation for breaches of their human rights are unnecessary. The Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims (Continuation and Reform) Amendment Bill proposes to continue the application of the Prisoners’ and Victims’ Claims Act 2005 rather than allowing…

Criminal Procedure Legislation Bill could have wide implications

Proposed technical changes in the Criminal Procedure Legislation Bill will substantially change New Zealand’s criminal procedure if the legislation is not amended, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Bill is described as non-controversial and necessary to enable the new criminal procedure regime to operate effectively when the Criminal Procedure Act…

“Point of contact” unlicensed immigration advisers undermine New Zealand

The integrity of New Zealand’s immigration licensing regime is being undermined by unlicensed advisers – usually outside New Zealand – who provide immigration advice but avoid the need to be licensed by claiming to be “points of contact” only. The New Zealand Law Society has brought this to the attention of…

Lawyers receive Christchurch Earthquake Awards

Christchurch lawyer Shonagh Burnhill says the recognition given to her fellow colleagues for their heroics during the 22 February 2011 earthquakes is extremely well deserved. On 18 December 2012 Christchurch mayor Bob Parker awarded the final round of awards to honour people who undertook acts of kindness, service or heroism during…

Mentally healthy workplaces

If your business deals with complex subject matter, and needs to work constructively with clients and respond proactively to a changing environment, then good people will be your greatest resource. Specifically people’s minds – their thinking, reasoning, emotional and perceptive abilities – will be the critical factors for your organisational success. The…

Moving towards CPD

The Law Society is working on establishing an initiative to require all New Zealand lawyers to complete a required level of professional development each year. This is likely to take effect from 1 April 2014, with lawyers able to participate from 1 October 2013. While many New Zealand lawyers already…

One thing I wish they'd taught me in law school

Four years (or more) and then you burst out into the world armed with an LLB (or more). Carbolic Smoke Ball Company and Frazer v Walker … cases, statutory interpretation and a bit of ethics thrown in. And then, so the saying goes, you move from learning how to think…

Stepping Up - enrol early

As Stepping Up completes its second year, the numbers wishing to take the course are beginning to exceed places available. Stepping Up is held four times a year – twice in Auckland, once in Wellington and once in Christchurch. Jane Battersby, the course administrator, is encouraging anyone who wants to practise…

The bookshelf

New Zealand Employment Law Guide 2013By Richard Rudman HR and employment relations consultant Richard Rudman’s annual handbook on New Zealand employment law states the law as at 1 January 2013. Changes that the Government intends to implement during 2013 are also covered. The book is targeted at employers, employees, managers, HR…

Built for Justice by Terry Carson

This delightful photographic and written record of old North Island courthouses might easily be considered a “coffee table” acquisition. However, that would belie its considerable value as an historical resource collating not only the history of the particular buildings appearing within its covers, but also many quaint and valuable records…

The book is alive and well…

The torrent of law books with which New Zealand’s legal publishers greeted 2012 is more of a trickle this year, but there is life at the New Zealand offices of the three multinationals which provide most of our legal information. LawTalk asked each about their plans for 2013 and whether…

Lawyers Complaints Service: Lawyer accepts he was unsuited to practise law

Company director Peter Dallison has been struck off by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal ([2013] NZLCDT 4). Mr Dallison admitted a charge of misconduct and consented to the strike off, accepting that he was unsuited to the practice of law. In October 2009, Mr Dallison acted for Mr B…

Lawyers Complaints Service: Strike-off follows misappropriation

John David Rangitauira has been struck off by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal following his conviction for misappropriation of funds ([2013] NZLCDT 6). Mr Rangitauira was convicted by a jury and sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment in 2011 on four charges of obtaining by deception. The charges arose after…

Lawyers Complaints Service: High Court upholds strike-off for dishonesty

Therese Anne Sisson has lost her appeal against being struck off. In Sisson v the Standards Committee (2) of the Canterbury-Westland Branch of the New Zealand Law Society [2013] NZHC 349, Ms Sisson appealed against the strike-off order the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal made on 24 November 2011. Two…

People

Tauranga lawyer Rob Ronayne has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury warrant. He was sworn in at Tauranga on 22 March and will sit in Auckland. Judge Ronayne was admitted in 1978 and spent his first two years of practice working in general conveyancing for a small…