Our Blog

Where appropriate, these rules set the limits within which a lawyer may practise. Within these limits, each lawyer must be guided by his or her own sense of professional responsibility. Maintaining the integrity and reputation of the profession is the responsibility of every lawyer. “(a) The purpose of the level of fitness is to ensure that persons admitted to practise are persons who may be entrusted with the performance of the duties and obligations imposed on lawyers; On July 1, 2021, new rules on the conduct of lawyers came into effect, with a focus on combating harassment and harassment. The amendments amended the Lawyers and Carriers (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Act 2008,[4] which is the main code of conduct for New Zealand lawyers. This process has significantly raised awareness of wellness issues among young lawyers and women, particularly for young lawyers and women, although it remains to be seen whether such a compliance framework can fundamentally change elements of the firm`s culture. The specific role of the Legal Complaints Officer is to independently review the decisions of the New Zealand Law Society and New Zealand Society of Conveyancers Standards Committees on complaints against lawyers and funders. Lawyers may seek advice from the Law Society`s Ethics Committee on the application or interpretation of these rules. These rules are registered in the Commercial Register in accordance with Article 102 (1) of the Act. the duty for lawyers to provide their clients with advance information on the most important aspects of client care: Complaints and disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated in the event of a violation of these rules are set out in Part 7 of the Act and in separate rules or regulations.

This Code of Conduct and Client Support for Lawyers has been developed by the New Zealand Law Society and approved by the Minister of Justice in accordance with Part 6 of the Act. In particular, these are the provisions required by sections 94(e), (j) and (o) and 95 and authorized by section 336 of the Act, which provide for or relate to: The provisions are binding on all lawyers and former lawyers under subsection 107(1) of the Act. Accordingly, they apply to all lawyers, whether they practise as independent lawyers or as individual or in-house lawyers in the private or public sector. Some rules only apply to certain types of work. This is recognised in section 55 of the Lawyers and Attendants Act 2006[1] (the Act), which sets out the manner in which a person is fit and appropriate to be admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the High Court. The New Zealand Law Society (`the NZLS`) or the High Court have the power to assess those various legal factors when deciding on the admission of new lawyers. The rules are not an exhaustive account of the conduct expected of lawyers. They set the minimum standards to which lawyers must adhere and are a reference point for discipline. A charge of misconduct or unsatisfactory conduct may be laid and a conviction may be obtained, even if the charge is not based on a violation of a particular rule or a violation of any other rule or regulation under the Act.

The duties of lawyers to clients are described in the Code of Professional Conduct and Client Support for Lawyers (the Rules). These obligations are subject to other mandatory obligations, including obligations to the courts and the judiciary. Acting in accordance with all fiduciary and due diligence duties lawyers owe to their clients: This has led to a regulatory pendulum that has set back sharply in terms of lawyers` social and personal misconduct, with new rules coming into effect in 2021 described as the most significant regulatory changes ever attempted by the NZLS when it comes to professional conduct. Misconduct and unsatisfactory conduct are defined in section 6 of the Act. A wilful or reckless violation of the Act or these Rules or other rules or regulations of practice made under the Act constitutes misconduct within the meaning of subparagraph 7(1)(a)(ii). A violation that is not intentional or reckless constitutes unsatisfactory conduct under Article 12(c). All lawyers or law firms must now have anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies and a grievance procedure, including a designated lawyer who must report these issues to the NZLS annually, including compliance with their reporting obligations and employment policies.