2020 - A year like no other

As we near the end of 2020 I reflect on the challenges faced by our profession in what has been one of the most disruptive years we will experience in our lifetimes, both professionally and personally.

The disruption brought by the lockdowns and border restrictions severely tested long-standing business models, with unpredictable revenue streams in some practice areas, being particularly affected.

I know the impact of Covid will continue to weigh heavily on many lawyers as their clients’ face spending the holidays in custody due to further delayed court appearances, and families will be kept apart due to border restrictions. We reflect on these ongoing issues in our feature section telling the stories of lawyers and their 2020 experience.

I want to acknowledge the Law Society’s strong response to the Covid lockdown, led by our President and supported by the executive team, which saw an unprecedented level of active engagement from our profession, as well as a positive endorsement from the Chief Justice.

As one of the three new Board members, we have worked collaboratively to provide continuity of governance during this time, with the support of outgoing Board members Andrew Logan and Tim Jones, particularly with Tiana taking maternity leave for a short period.

I would like to highlight a few key items that the Law Society has progressed this year.

We, in what is a historic event, welcomed Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa and the Pacific Lawyers Association as permanent members of our Council, a motion that was put forward by Tiana Epati, and led by Jacque Lethbridge (Vice President – Auckland) in Tiana’s absence, with the full support of the Board at the October Council meeting.

The steering group leading the Independent Review of the statutory framework for lawyers experienced some delays due to the pandemic. However, the work is now progressing and the draft Terms of Reference, as prepared by the steering group, will be considered at the upcoming December Board meeting. Wider consultation on this will follow thereafter.

Subject to final sign-off by the Law Society’s Council, we envisage rolling out changes to lawyers’ conduct rules under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 (RCCC) and the (Lawyer: Ongoing Legal Education Continuing Professional Development) Rules 2013 (CPD) in early 2021. These changes are a product of wide consultation within our profession and we acknowledge everyone who took the time to contribute to this process.

In the practising well space, we are pleased to see the take up of the National Mentoring Programme. We have had encouraging feedback from mentoring participants about the connections they have made and the positive impact of being in a mentoring relationship. We continue to also offer a free counselling service as part of our health and wellbeing offering.

We also have the new Government settling in with the team of five Ministers working across justice-related portfolios. And, in this edition of LawTalk, lawyer and political commentator Brigitte Morten breaks down the challenges and expected priorities for the Government when it comes to justice.

Finally, I would like to thank Tiana for her ongoing leadership, my fellow Board members for their collegiality and commitment, and all our volunteers who sit on Standards Committees, law reform, branch and section committees. Your hard work has enabled the organisation to continue to deliver its regulatory and representative services throughout a very unsettled year. A special thanks to the staff of the Law Society and NZLS CLE who have done a tremendous job in the face of ongoing disruption.

Whatever you are doing as we head into the final few weeks of 2020 and welcome 2021, I hope you manage to get some time to enjoy the summer and to rest and recharge with your whānau and friends.

Vinaka vaka levu.

Arti Chand Vice President