The New Zealand Law Society| Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa has announced a consultation on rule changes in the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 (RCCC) and the (Lawyer: Ongoing Legal Education Continuing Professional Development) Rules 2013 (CPD), in order to combat bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession. The proposed RCCC and CPD changes aim to clarify and reinforce conduct standards and obligations concerning discrimination, harassment, bullying and other unacceptable conduct by lawyers and employees of law practices.
The society has said that they are “committed to playing a leadership role in targeting and eliminating the culture of bullying and sexual harassment which exists in some parts of Aotearoa New Zealand’s legal community.
This work is a high priority for us in our role as the regulator of the legal profession and as one of the leaders in creating a safer, healthier and more inclusive and diverse legal culture.”