The New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa will implement new rules on lawyer behaviour, with an emphasis on tackling bullying and harassment, from July the 1st. The amended rules will clarify the standards of behaviour expected of lawyers when engaging with clients and colleagues.
New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa President Tiana Epati said“Bullying, discrimination, racial or sexual harassment and other unacceptable conduct has no place in any profession. Changes to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 (RCCC) were part of the recommendations by the Law Society’s Independent Working Group chaired by Dame Silvia Cartwright. Implementing these changes is the most significant regulatory step available to the Law Society to tackle the behaviour highlighted by the Legal Workplace Environment Survey in 2018.”
The amended rules will include clarifications around the definitions of bullying, discrimination, harassment, including racial and sexual harassment, and other unacceptable conduct. As well as these clarifications the rules include new reporting requirements for notifying this conduct to the Law Society to ensure that there is an appropriate regulatory response.
Law practices in New Zealand will be required to have policies in place to protect staff and clients, as well as this they will need to have an investigative process in place for allegations of unacceptable conduct. In addition, each practice will need to designate a lawyer to report annually to the Law Society on any investigations undertaken by their law practice. The emphasis of the new rules is on the responsibility of each lawyer and law practice to deal with and report unacceptable conduct, rather than individual lawyers having to come forward.
Ms Epati has said “Ahead of the final Rules being approved by the Minister of Justice earlier this year, widespread consultation took place with the profession. I’m confident that these changes have the support of the profession. Everyone has an individual part to play so the public can have trust and confidence in the legal profession. While these Rules are one way the Law Society can bring about change, real and long-lasting change will only take place when everyone takes responsibility. That may be showing up to support a colleague, calling out inappropriate behaviour or helping to build a supportive, non-discriminatory environment within your legal workplace.”
Read more about the new rules here, or read the updated rules here.