From structure to language, we need a more simplified, context-driven court system. Whether experienced by those in the legal profession, bit players (players such as complainants, defendants and witnesses) or the general public, our court system needs to be better understood. This is the perspective of Chester Borrows, Minister for ... More about Courts Minister Chester Borrows looks forward.
Lots of lawyers have lots of really good ideas on how to improve the justice system, Justice Minister Judith Collins says. “I am very keen to work with the legal profession,” she said, “because what I find when I talk to lawyers is that most of them have a very ... More about Minister of Justice outlines priorities.
Sam Johnson has been named Coca Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year at an awards ceremony in Auckland on 16 February 2012. Mr Johnson was chosen for this category of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards from a pool of hundreds of other 15- to 30-year-olds, nominated for ... More about Law Student Sam Johnson is Young New Zealander of the Year.
It’s been an “enormous privilege” to have had some role to play in the first 10 years of jurisprudence under Part 1A of the Human Rights Act 1993, says the former Human Rights Review Tribunal chair Royden Hindle. Mr Hindle recently stepped down from that role after nearly a decade. The ... More about Royden Hindle looks back on decade with Human Rights Review Tribunal.
After more than a decade on the Legal Services Committee, six of them as its convener, James Wilding stepped down in 2011. James was an “absolutely outstanding” convener, according to former New Zealand Law Society President John Marshall QC. “He willingly contributed huge amounts of time and expertise to the committee ... More about James Wilding steps down as NZLS Legal Services committee convenor.
John Horner has stepped down after five years as convener of the New Zealand Law Society Commercial and Business Law Committee, having first joined the committee in 2004. “To get through the variety and pace of workload provided, you could describe John as collaborative yet decisive,” committee member Sarah-Jane Weir says. “ ... More about John Horner a collaborative and decisive leader.
Camilla Owen is a “super woman” who has performed outstandingly as convener of the New Zealand Law Society’s Environmental Law Committee, says the 2011 incoming convener Margot Perpick. “She just amazes me,” Margot says. “She’s very inspiring.” The quality of her work is outstanding and that has stood the ... More about Camilla Owen outstanding as committee convenor.
What makes a Māori lawyer a genuine champion? For those who want to work in Māori areas of law it is important to be not only expert and passionate about Māori values, culture and customs, but to be the best lawyer you can be, says Justice Joe ... More about Justice Joe Williams: The future has never been brighter.
One could be forgiven for thinking that after 40 years teaching law, the spark may have become a little dim. Not for Professor David McLauchlan. His high level of enthusiasm is evident the moment you walk in the door of his office. Even the door itself has a hint of things ... More about Professor David McLauchlan: 40 years teaching the law.
After dabbling with accounting and philosophy, it was the bread and butter of law – commerce, logic and arguing - that seeded Charles Spillane’s career. “It’s hard to tell you anything I liked about accounting, and I realised that there weren’t many philosophy lecturers dying off for me ... More about Charles Spillane, In-House Lawyer of the Year.
It cannot happen very often that a former judge is admitted to the bar. Yet that is exactly what did occur in the Wellington High Court on 5 August 2011. Ben Paradza fled from his position as a High Court judge in Zimbabwe in fear of his life in 2006. He had been ... More about Former Zimbabwean Judge admitted to NZ Bar.
The opportunity to get paid on an OE that differs from the norm was one that lawyer and Territorial Force officer Captain Andrew Thomas couldn’t pass up. Not having “any desire to spend two years working for a law firm in London”, Captain Thomas “jumped at the opportunity” to ... More about Captain Andrew Thomas, UN observer and lawyer.
Newly appointed District Court Judge, breast cancer survivor, Matariki enthusiast and energetic teacher, Judge Claire Ryan does not do things by halves. Since being admitted in 1985, Ms Ryan has had a distinguished career. She worked for Nicholson Gribben (now Phillips Fox), Chapman Tripp and her late father, Kevin Ryan ... More about Judge Claire Ryan: On the bench and among the stars .
Reluctantly retired, the country's longest serving full time District Court Judge is definitely not disappearing into retirement. Judge von Dadelszen's 70th birthday meant he had to hang up his robes after 23-and-a-half years adjudicating in New Zealand courts, but he will take the opportunity to “relief judge” for ... More about Longest serving judge hangs up his robes.
Keith Young and sister Carol Caulfield have been practising together in partnership as Young and Caulfield in Auckland’s Browns Bay since 1988. That, Keith says, makes them one of the few brother-sister partnerships that he knows of and possibly the oldest. Keith and Carol come from a particularly strong family, ... More about Brother and sister in practice together for 23 years.
Professor Janet McLean, a specialist in constitutional and administrative law, is returning to Auckland University from Britain. She has been appointed Professor of Law and will take up the position later in 2011. Professor McLean taught at Auckland from 1991 to 1997 and again from 1999 to 2006 before becoming Professor of Law and Governance ... More about Professor Janet McLean joins Auckland University.
Justice Wild says he was so young when he went into sole practice in 1976 his father (former chief justice Sir Richard Wild) joked later that “he was surprised that that I had surprised at the bar.” But as a man who likes “paddling his own canoe,” this career path suited ... More about Justice Wild appointed to the Court of Appeal.
Justice John Hansen, whose final sitting took place in Christchurch recently, has been a permanent High Court Judge for 12 years. Justice Hansen studied at Otago University and was admitted in 1968. After practising in Dunedin, he joined the Hong Kong judiciary in 1979 and sat as a magistrate, coroner, district court judge, ... More about Justice John Hansen retires from the bench in 2008.
George Tanner QC has had a "very influential role in New Zealand’s law making" Attorney-General Michael Cullen said on 25 June 2007 in farewelling him as chief parliamentary counsel. George Tanner joined the Parliamentary Counsel Office in 1981 and took over from Walter Iles as chief parliamentary counsel nearly 11 years ... More about Very influential law-making role.
By Graham Wear Partners at the Auckland law firm Glaister Ennor chose a novel way to farewell Bob Narev, who was retiring after 50 years at the firm, initially as an employee, then a partner, senior partner and most recently as a consultant. At an Auckland Grammar School fund-raising auction, they ... More about Bob Narev’s life takes centre stage.
Working very long hours has been part of lawyer Helen Twentyman’s life for years now. Some people have become aware just how many hours she works when she has sent them an email. It may well carry a time such as 12:30 or even 1:30am. Helen is now in her ... More about Helen Twentyman: Law centre work her passion.
A New Zealand judge has been honoured in India. Manukau District Court Judge Ajit Swaran Singh was presented with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award on 9 January 2008. He travelled to India to receive the award from the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, who is also a lawyer. The honour was ... More about Judge Ajit Singh honoured with Indian award.
Wellington lawyer Dr George Barton QC celebrated 60 years at the bar on 24 March 2008. Yet when he began his tertiary education, it was not the law he started studying. For his first three years at university, George studied the classics and mathematics at Otago University, graduating with a BA. After his ... More about George Barton celebrates 60 years as a lawyer.
Sir Geoffrey Palmer is “delighted” to have been President of the Law Commission, he says on the eve of stepping down. That is especially the case “since I designed the original statute (establishing the Commission) and got it passed”. For that reason, he has felt a “peculiar satisfaction” being the ... More about Sir Geoffrey Palmer Interview.
Genevieve Denize, Rowena Lewis and Katie Mortimer come from families of female practitioners, a once rare occurrence that is now mainstream. They see working in your own practice as the key to balancing a successful legal career with family commitments. Genevieve Denize is a barrister sole practising in Tauranga. Her ... More about Lawyering with a family.
Waikato University’s new law dean has left behind the largest law school in Canada to head up one of New Zealand’s smallest. Professor Bradford W Morse, who has come from Ottawa University, says he has big plans for his new charge. “Waikato has strengths that I think place ... More about Bradford Morse Waikato law Dean.
The clutch of scholarships and prizes gained by fourth-year Law student, Elizabeth Chan, is doing more than ease her path financially. It also lets her pour her energies into community work, extend her personal and professional networks, and travel abroad. Elizabeth is studying at the University of Auckland for a ... More about Elizabeth Chan gathers awards.
Five generations of New Zealand lawyers In February 2010, Sarah Quilliam was admitted at the High Court in Wellington, becaming the fifth consecutive generation of Quilliams to be admitted to the bar. Sarah’s uncle Derek Quilliam, who acted as Sarah’s moving counsel, says that at the time it was ... More about The Quilliam Family.
Sir Edmund (Ted) Thomas QC has been awarded a higher doctorate from Victoria University. The award will be conferred at Victoria’s December 2009 graduation ceremony. Sir Edmund was awarded a Doctorate of Laws degree (LLD) in recognition of his contribution to jurisprudence. A retired judge of the Court of Appeal ... More about Sir Ted Thomas honoured.
Two new members of the legal profession are continuing proud family traditions. LawTalk congratulates the Moore and Willis families. When Toby Moore is admitted to the bar in Nelson on 15 October he will join four generations of his forebears and a select group of lawyers for whom the practice of ... More about Moore and Willis families.
The admiration of Katherine Ewer’s five other partners in Christchurch firm MDS Law as to her considerable intellectual and sporting attributes soared even higher through the way she calmly handled matters on “earthquake day”, 4 September, which was also her wedding day. By 8:30am guests had received a text to ... More about Quake doesn‘t spoil wedding day.