Charl Benno Hirschfeld censured for conduct
Auckland barrister Charl Benno Hirschfeld has been censured by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary
Tribunal
Mr Hirschfeld had pleaded guilty to 12 charges of negligence in his professional capacity such as would tend to bring
the profession into disrepute.
The charges related to incorrect criminal legal aid invoices he rendered to the Legal Services Agency in 2009 and 2010
where the total overpayment was $1,368.
New Zealand Law Society Auckland Vice President Kathryn Beck says the tribunal found that the level of negligence was at
the lower end of the scale.
“The tribunal decided that Mr Hirschfeld was entitled to credit for his previous unblemished career over a period of
thirty years,” Ms Beck says.
Mr Hirschfeld was censured, ordered to repay the $1,368, to make a contribution of $20,000 towards the costs of the
prosecution and to reimburse the New Zealand Law Society for half the costs of the hearing.
ends