Lawyers committed to professional ethics

NEW ZEALAND LAW SOCIETY MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate use 5 July 2012
Lawyers committed to professional ethics

New Zealand lawyers have made their annual declaration of commitment to an ethical professional culture and fundamental professional obligations.

Every year, lawyers must renew their New Zealand Law Society practising certificate or forgo their ability to give legal advice The 2012-13 practising certificate renewal round recently closed with 10,551 lawyers renewing their practising certificates.

All lawyers are required to declare that they have not done anything in the previous year that would disqualify them from practising law in New Zealand. New Zealand lawyers are also required to adhere to a comprehensive set of Conduct and Client Care Rules.

In the latest issue of the Law Society’s magazine LawTalk, Chief Executive Christine Grice says this procedure is an important part of the maintenance of the professional regulatory framework and an ethical culture and reputation.

“The Law Society’s Registry team, in maintaining the Register and its oversight of entrants into the profession, plays an important role in ensuring regulation of the profession,” she says.

The Reader’s Digest Trust Poll 2012 of professions placed lawyers at 27 of 40 selected professions.
This contrasts with targeted research that says that the vast majority of clients trust and respect their own lawyer.

In her message, Ms Grice draws on 1996 research that showed 71% of the New Zealand public felt lawyers were reliable, but only 40% of lawyers felt the public would agree that lawyers were reliable.
“I am sure there would be a similar result if the research were repeated today,” she says.

“The image we have of ourselves might be more of an issue than the image we think the public has of us.

“Sadly our ‘trust’ reputation gets dented each time one of our colleagues drops the ball. Usually that makes front page news and invites a feeding frenzy for the media.

“The scrutiny of professional regulation is constant and most lawyers respect and support the need for vigilant and responsive regulation.”

Lawyers’ community involvement is another important way they maintain the reputation of the profession.

“When you consider the thousands of hours of pro bono work, free legal advice and services given to community groups, work at community law centres and other ways lawyers willingly give their time and expertise,” Ms Grice says.

“We should all recognise that this country has a very fine and caring legal profession.”

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