Lawyers and Conveyancers Act
The purpose of this recently passed Act is to maintain public confidence in the provision of legal services, to protect consumers, and recognise the status of the two professions: lawyers and conveyancers. The Act ends the exclusive right of lawyers to carry out conveyancing work with the creation of the new profession of licenced conveyancer.
The Act provides a more accessible framework for hearing complaints about lawyers and conveyancers. It creates an independent Legal Complaints Review Officer with the power to refer, overturn or substitute the decisions of the existing Standards Committees. The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal is established to deal with serious cases of misconduct.
The rank of Queen's Counsel is retained, but it is renamed Senior Counsel with existing Queen's Counsel able to use either title. The Act will be implemented progressively over the next 18 months.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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