17 October 2007

Christchurch lawyer appointed District Court Judge

Raoul Edwin Neave, Barrister of Christchurch, has been appointed a District Court Judge, Attorney-General Michael Cullen announced today.

Mr Neave was admitted in 1981 and from 1980 to 1982 was a Judges' Clerk in the High Court, Christchurch. From 1982 to 1984 he was a Law Clerk with Lawford and Co, Grays Inn, London. From 1985 to 1993 he was a Staff Solicitor and Associate with Raymond Donnelly and Co, Christchurch and from 1993 to 1997 an Associate with Flesher Sandford, Christchurch.

Mr Neave has been a Barrister Sole since 1997. He is a former Specialist Adviser (Criminal) to the Legal Services Agency. Since 2005 he has been a Moderator in Advocacy for the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. He has had appearances at all levels from the District Court to the Court of Appeal, both civil and criminal, over 22 years. His principal areas of practice are criminal, civil, family and administrative. For 20 years he tutored in either the Law of Evidence or Criminal Law at the University of Canterbury.

Mr Neave is a member of the Canterbury District Law Society Council
(currently serving as its Treasurer) and was a member of the District Law Societies’ Library Steering Group which had the responsibility of recommending how libraries should be organised in the new legal environment. He was previously a member of the New Zealand Law Society’s Library Committee and was recently appointed to the new Courthouse Standing Committee. He is currently a member of the New Zealand Law Society Council.

Mr Neave’s community involvement includes the Canterbury Children’s Theatre since 1989, the Christchurch Community Arts Council, the Malthouse Theatre Trust and the Christchurch Dance Education Bursary Trust.

Mr Neave will be sworn in on 7 November 2007 and will sit in Christchurch.

ENDS

© Scoop Media