New Zealand Law Society agrees with name publication policy

The New Zealand Law Society says it agrees with the Legal Services Agency’s decision to publish the names of legal aid lawyers whose listing approvals have been cancelled.

Law Society President Jonathan Temm today said it is important that the public and the legal profession have confidence in the way the legal aid system is administered.

“Disclosing the identity of legal aid lawyers whose approvals have been cancelled will help maintain confidence in the vast majority of lawyers providing legal aid and who abide by the rules and provide good service,” Mr Temm said.

Mr Temm said the Society also welcomed the news that the Legal Services Agency will now keep it informed whenever a lawyer’s legal aid listing is cancelled.

“As the regulator of the New Zealand legal profession, the Law Society is concerned to ensure the maintenance of high legal professional standards,” he said.

“The Society operates the Lawyers Complaints Service and has established a system where complaints about lawyers are addressed promptly. However, like all regulators, we are also dependent on receiving information where a lawyer has not met required standards – and I can assure everyone that we will fully investigate such information.”

Mr Temm said any referral of a lawyer suspended by the Agency would be to the Society’s Lawyers Complaints Service. Any subsequent investigation would be carried out by a Lawyers Standards Committee using the established processes to ensure that all parties had an opportunity to be heard.

“The Law Society looks forward to continuing to develop a close working relationship with the Legal Services Agency, with both working to ensure that New Zealanders continue to enjoy the benefits of a skilled and well regulated legal profession,” he said.

ENDS

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