Law Society comments on Comeskey penalty

Law Society comments on Christopher Comeskey Penalty

New Zealand Law Society President Jonathan Temm today commented on the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal decision to suspend Auckland barrister Christopher Patrick Comeskey from the roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand.

Mr Temm said today that the Society’s Auckland Standards Committee had sought to have Mr Comeskey struck off because of the serious nature of the professional misconduct which he had admitted and pleaded guilty to.

“The misconduct related to breaches of the Rules of Conduct and Client Care, inaccurate details on an invoice to the Legal Services Agency, and negligence and incompetence in his professional capacity. The Tribunal has decided that suspension is an appropriate penalty,” he said.

“The New Zealand Law Society has a statutory responsibility to control and regulate lawyers and the practice of the profession of law in New Zealand. This is a statutory duty which the Society takes very seriously. All New Zealanders should be able to have confidence in the integrity of the legal profession and it is incumbent on the Law Society to ensure this happens.”

Mr Temm said the Law Society had excellent systems and procedures in place so that it was able to continue to uphold the fundamental obligations imposed on lawyers.

“That includes 21 Standards Committees around the country which bring together lawyers and non-lawyers with the specific objective of investigating and – where necessary – prosecuting complaints against lawyers.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media