About the Tribunal
The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal determines disciplinary charges against the law and conveyancing professions.
In March 2006, Parliament passed the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act, replacing the Law Practitioners Act 1982. The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal was established under this new regulatory system.
Purposes of the Tribunal
The three main purposes of the Act and the Tribunal are to:
- protect the clients of lawyers and conveyancers and ensure that quality, consistent and effective decisions are made in dealing with alleged breaches of service
- promote and maintain public confidence in these professions
- recognise professional status, especially that of the conveyancing profession.
Functions of the Tribunal
The Tribunal hears and determines disciplinary charges against the legal and conveyancing professions. These charges are referred to it by a standards committee of the New Zealand Law Society or New Zealand Society of Conveyancers, or the Legal Complaints Review Officer.
The Tribunal also deals with legal matters that relate to employment, registration, revocations and appeals made to it by:
- practitioners or former practitioners
- incorporated firms or former incorporated firms
- employees or former employees of practitioners or former practitioners
- employees or former employees of incorporated firms or former incorporated firms.
Powers of the Tribunal
The Tribunal has a range of powers. The following are some examples of the types of orders the Tribunal may give following a hearing.
- Refer bill of costs back to the standards committee
- Strike a practitioner off the roll or register
- Suspend a practitioner from practice (up to 36 months)
- Give or deny consent to employ
- Censure or reprimand
- Order a practitioner to undergo practical training or education
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