About the tribunal

In March 2006, Parliament passed the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act, replacing the Law Practitioners Act 1982. The Lawyers & Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal was established under this new regulatory system.

Purposes of the tribunal

The 3 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. These 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.

Practice note

Issued by the Chairperson of the Lawyers & Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal:

Practice note [PDF, 353 KB]

Annual reports

For the 12 months ended 30 June 2016:
2016 annual report [PDF, 496 KB]

For the 12 months ended 30 June 2015:
2015 annual report [PDF, 249 KB]

For the 12 months ended 30 June 2014:
2014 annual report [PDF, 656 KB]

For the 12 months ended on 30 June 2013:
2013 annual report [PDF, 442 KB]

For the 12 months ended on 30 June 2012:
2012 annual report [PDF, 471 KB]

For the 12 months ended on 30 June 2011:
2011 annual report [PDF, 226 KB]

For the 12 months ended on 30 June 2010:
2010 annual report [PDF, 204 KB]

For the 12 months ended on 30 June 2009:
2009 annual report [PDF, 183 KB]