New President for New Zealand Law Society

Rotorua barrister Jonathan Temm has today become President of the New Zealand Law Society. Mr Temm took over the presidency from John Marshall QC of Wellington at the Society’s Council meeting in Wellington. The term of office is three years.

Jonathan Temm graduated BA/LLB Hons from Auckland University in 1992 and began his legal career at Chapman Tripp in Auckland. He joined the Rotorua firm of Davys Burton in 1995, later becoming a partner and senior Crown counsel.

In 2005 he became a barrister specialising in criminal law. He has been involved in law society work since 2000 and was President of the former Waikato Bay of Plenty District Law Society (now a branch of the New Zealand Law Society). Mr Temm’s father, the late Sir Paul Temm, was a prominent Queen’s Counsel and High Court judge.

The New Zealand Law Society regulates the country’s 11,000 lawyers. Mr Temm says his predecessor, John Marshall, did a tremendous job in taking the Society through implementation of the new regulatory system.

He says the Society has been working to develop and enhance a range of services for its membership and he is delighted with the calibre of the work that has gone into these developments.

“I believe members will find real benefits in a new members’ home page which will go live on 30 April,” he says. “Internet access and e-based services are the way of the future. Lawyers will shortly be able to access a wide range of up-to-date information on events, legal education, library services and advice on mental and physical well-being.”

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The new internet pages will also allow lawyers to participate in online discussion and submissions on law reform issues.

Mr Temm will continue his Rotorua practice while he is president, but says his main focus now will be the New Zealand Law Society and current issues facing the legal profession.

ENDS

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