You can search by selecting a jurisdiction, a keyword (for example a name) or browse by year.

Helpful search tips:

• If you are doing a keyword search (eg. misconduct), please note that this search will only produce decisions where the keyword appears in the title or decision description.
• If you want to search the entire decision document for certain keywords, you will need to use full website search located in the top right hand corner of this page.

Jurisdiction All Taxation and Charities Review Authority Accident Compensation Appeals District Court Registry Customs Appeal Authority Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Tenancy Tribunal Land Valuation Tribunal Employment Court Environment Court Coroners Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal Māori Land Court Māori Appellate Court Disputes Tribunal Accident Compensation Appeal Authority Copyright Tribunal Human Rights Review Tribunal Immigration Advisers Complaints & Disciplinary Tribunal Lawyers & Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority Licensing Authority of Secondhand Dealers & Pawnbrokers Legal Complaints Review Officer Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal Review Authority Social Security Appeal Authority Student Allowance Appeal Authority Victims' Special Claims Tribunal Waitangi Tribunal Weathertight Homes Tribunal

Search by keywords

Release date if known Select a year 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964

Select a month January February March April May June July August September October November December

Select a day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

1. National Standards Committee 1 v Young [2020] NZLCDT 20 (10 July 2020) [PDF, 289 KB]

   Liability / Standards Committee charged practitioner with negligence or incompetence / provided legal services without notifying employer or having the skills, experience or supervision to do so / not keeping a proper file, with adverse effects for client / later tried to persuade client to withdraw complaint / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 7 / rule 7.1 / rule 13.3 / HELD / client significantly hampered in managing their case due to lack of English language ability / practitioner and client accepted written terms of engagement, not “limited terms” suggested by practitioner / negligent or incompetent conduct in relation to file management, client representation at court hearing, advice on discovery, method of providing a non-English speaking deponent’s evidence, and failing to obtain adequate supervision / misconduct found / attempting to persuade client to withdraw complaint was unsatisfactory conduct

2. Otago Standards Committee v Zhao [2020] NZLCDT 19 (6 July 2020) [PDF, 111 KB]

   Liability / practitioner previously ordered by Tribunal to complete trust account supervisor course / current charge for failing to comply with that order / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008, regulation 19 / schedule 1 / schedule 2 / HELD / Law Society runs two trust account supervisor courses, a beginner course with an exam, and a refresher course / Tribunal order was unspecific in face of two options / practitioner eligible under Regulations to take refresher course / Committee assumed attendance at refresher course was non-compliance / practitioner enrolled in beginner course but postponed for medical reasons / advised by Law Society that the Regulations permitted him to complete refresher course / in context of approaching the matter with some persistence, delay from November 2017 to February 2018 insufficient to establish offence / charge dismissed

3. Auckland Standards Committee 2 v Burcher [2020] NZLCDT 18 (30 June 2020) [PDF, 145 KB]

   Penalty / misconduct and unsatisfactory conduct / practitioner performed legal work as a solicitor/trustee while suspended / breach of LCDT orders / High Court appeal confirmed four particulars as disgraceful or dishonourable / Burcher v Auckland Standards Committee 5 [2020] NZHC 43 / Central Standards Committee v Meyrick [2018] NZLCDT 28 / Auckland Standards Committees 3 and 4 v Banbrook [2017] NZLCDT 35 / HELD / no criticism of work performed for clients / harm to credibility of disciplinary system / suspended trustee lawyer must engage another lawyer to carry out legal work / not most serious breach of suspension order, but all breaches are serious / in context of dysfunctional partnership / did not charge for work / conduct occurred four years ago / aggravating feature: third appearance before LCDT / public protection not required / Tribunal ordered two-month suspension and censure / practitioner to pay two-thirds of Standards Committee’s costs and reimburse full Tribunal’s costs

4. Auckland Standards Committee 1 v Arman [2020] NZLCDT 17 (22 June 2020) [PDF, 289 KB]

   Liability and penalty / misconduct or unsatisfactory conduct / criminal proceedings / practitioner did not appear or respond / Tribunal concluded service was properly effected and practitioner waived right to appear / practitioner charged for failing to serve client’s best interests in criminal proceedings / Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008, rule 9.5 / rule 13.1 / HELD / wilful breach of  obligation to advise client on eligibility for legal aid / remaining charges established, to at least a reckless level / misconduct charge proved / High Court found miscarriage of justice requiring conviction to be set aside / high end of misconduct spectrum / practitioner previously suspended for 10 months for serious misconduct involving a client who was pressured into a guilty plea / Tribunal ordered practitioner be struck off / practitioner to refund $8,385 to complainant and to pay Standards Committee’s and Tribunal’s costs

5. Auckland Standards Committee 5 v Ellis [2020] NZLCDT 16 (8 June 2020) [PDF, 98 KB]

   Penalty / practitioner previously struck off / outstanding charges dealt with by finding of misconduct by consent, on the basis of all other charges being withdrawn by leave of the Tribunal / Standards Committee did not seek further compensation in this jurisdiction / parties agreed that appropriate penalty was censure and costs / only remaining issue quantum of costs / HELD / Tribunal ordered censure / practitioner to pay Standards Committee’s and Tribunal’s costs / however practitioner should not have to pay costs for filing amended charges where Tribunal considered original charges to be “somewhat defective” / also costs should be reduced to reflect attendances for a compensation claim which was not ultimately pursued

6. Auckland Standards Committee 1 v Hooker [2020] NZLCDT 15 [PDF, 96 KB]

   Decision on Costs.  Date of Decision: 29 May 2020.

7. Auckland Standards Committee 2 v Aitken [2020] NZLCDT 13 [PDF, 131 KB]

   Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 29 April 2020.

8. Auckland Standards Committee 5 v Hong [2020] NZLCDT 12 [PDF, 160 KB]

   Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 29 April 2020.

9. Auckland Standards Committee 1 v Hooker [2020] NZLCDT 10 [PDF, 136 KB]

   Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 18 March 2020.

10. Canterbury Westland Standards Committee 2 v Woodward [2020] NZLCDT 9 [PDF, 116 KB]

    Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 4 March 2020.

11. Canterbury Westland Standards Committee 1 v Williams [2020] NZLCDT 8 [PDF, 98 KB]

    Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 28 February 2020.

12. Auckland Standards Committee 1 v Pomeroy [2020] NZLCDT 7 [PDF, 92 KB]

    Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 14 February 2020.

13. Auckland Standards Committee 2 v Kennelly [2020] NZLCDT 6 [PDF, 143 KB]

    Decision on Liability and Penalty.  Date of Decision: 11 February 2020.

14. Auckland Standards Committee 5 v Hong [2020] NZLCDT 5 [PDF, 265 KB]

    Decision on Liability.  Date of decision: 10 February 2020.

15. Canterbury Westland Standards Committee 2 v Healy [2020] NZLCDT 4 [PDF, 106 KB]

    Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 31 January 2020.

16. Auckland Standards Committee 1 v Ravelich [2020] NZLCDT 3 [PDF, 191 KB]

    Decision on Liability.  Date of Decision: 22 January 2020.

17. Auckland Standards Committee 5 v Hong [2019] NZLCDT 40 [PDF, 129 KB]

    Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 23 December 2019.

18. National Standards Committee 1 v Peters [2019] NZLCDT 39 [PDF, 248 KB]

    Decision on Liability and Interim Suppression Orders.  Date of Decision: 20 December 2019. 

19. Canterbury Westland Standards Committee 1 v Whitcombe [2019] NZLCDT 37 [PDF, 152 KB]

    Decision on Liability and Penalty.  Date of Decision: 4 December 2019.

20. Canterbury Westland Standards Committee 1 v Allan [2019] NZLCDT 35 [PDF, 85 KB]

    Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 3 December 2019.

21. Canterbury Westland Standards Committee 1 v Williams [2019] NZLCDT 33 [PDF, 317 KB]

    Decision on Liability.  Date of Decision: 4 November 2019.

22. Waikato Bay of Plenty Standards Committee 1 v Campion [2019] NZLCDT 32 [PDF, 108 KB]

    Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 17 October 2019.

23. Auckland Standards Committee 2 v Lawes [2019] NZLCDT 31 [PDF, 297 KB]

    Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 14 October 2019.

24. Otago Standards Committee v Copland [2019] NZLCDT 29 [PDF, 156 KB]

    Decision on Penalty.  Date of Decision: 11 October 2019.

25. Auckland Standards Committee 5 v Hong [2019] NZLCDT 28 [PDF, 132 KB]

    Decision on Liability.  Date of Decision: 11 October 2019.