Amendments to Returning Offenders legislation passed under urgency despite inconsistency with human rights

Parliament has urgently passed a new Bill today which means ‘501 deportees’ will face parole-like conditions even if they offended before November 2015, despite the Attorney General confirming aspects of the proposed amendments are inconsistent with fundamental human rights.

President's Christmas message 2022

It was a huge privilege to be elected as the 33rd President of the Law Society in November. I want to thank my colleagues for the trust and confidence you have in me to lead our profession through our next phase. It isn’t a role defined by one person –…

Regulatory strategy paves the way forward

We are focused on ensuring we embrace the opportunities we have ahead of us to shape and build a modern, inclusive and world-class profession.

End of year reminders from Registry

The Registry Team have some important reminders for practising lawyers. The Registry Team will not be available from midday Friday, 23 December 2022 until 8.30am Monday, 9 January 2023.

Law Society recommends providing for post-legislative scrutiny processes in Parliament’s rules

The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has recommended amending the Standing Orders to provide for processes which empower Parliament to undertake post-legislative scrutiny of legislation.

Winners of the 2022 New Zealand Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize

Jack Trevella and Phoebe Clifford have been announced as the winners of the 2022 Cleary Memorial Prize.

Law Society welcomes Rules Committee’s Improving Access to Civil Justice report

Yesterday (23 November), the Rules Committee | Te Komiti mō ngā Tikanga Kooti published its report on Improving Access to Civil Justice. The Report recommends various policy and legislative changes, as well as rule changes, to improve access to civil justice in Aotearoa.

Increasing aspiration for gender equality in the legal profession

Changes to keep driving improvements across the legal profession on gender equality will ensure we lock in the impressive gains and build on them some more following the latest Gender Equality Charter survey results, the New Zealand Law Society says.

Aotearoa New Zealand ranks seventh in 2022 Rule of Law Index

The World Justice Project has released its 2022 Rule of Law Index, once again ranking Aotearoa New Zealand seventh internationally. Scoring 0.83 out of a possible 1, New Zealand was first in the East Asia and Pacific region.

Update on the implementation of the Sexual Violence Legislation Act

The Ministry of Justice is currently preparing for new provisions in the Sexual Violence Legislation Act 2021. This includes the provisions enabling alternative modes for giving evidence.