(1) There shall continue to be a Society called the New Zealand Law Society (hereinafter referred to as the Society), being the Society constituted under the Law Practitioners Act 1955 and existing at the commencement of this Act.

(2) The Society shall consist of all practitioners who for the time being are members of any District Law Society and hold current practising certificates as barristers or as solicitors or as both.

(3) The Society shall be a body corporate, with perpetual succession and a common seal, and shall be capable of holding real and personal property and of doing and suffering all that bodies corporate may do and suffer.

(1) The general functions of the Society shall be—

• (a) To promote the interests of the legal profession and the interests of the public in relation to legal matters:

• (b) To promote and encourage proper conduct among the members of the legal profession:

• (c) To suppress illegal, dishonourable, or improper practices by members of the legal profession:

• (d) To preserve and maintain the integrity and status of the legal profession:

• (e) To promote opportunities for the acquisition and diffusion of legal knowledge and skills relating to the practice of law:

• (f) To assist in and promote the reform of the law:

• (g) To provide means for the amicable settlement of professional differences between members of the legal profession.

(2) The Society shall have such other functions as are conferred on it by this or any other Act.

(1) The Society shall have all such powers, rights, and authorities as are reasonably necessary or expedient for or conducive to the exercise of any of its functions.

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1) of this section, the Society shall, in addition to any other powers conferred on it by this or any other Act, have the following powers:

• (a) To provide or arrange for the provision of services and facilities for practitioners, including seminars and educational and training services and facilities:

• (b) To publish or arrange for the publication of such periodicals, pamphlets, or other publications as it may consider of benefit to the public or to practitioners in relation to the practice of the law and the activities of the Society or of District Law Societies:

• (c) To oppose any application made for admission as a barrister and solicitor, or any other application made under this Act:

• (d) To institute prosecutions against practitioners or other persons for the breach of any statute, rules, or regulations relating to the practice of the law:

• (e) To appoint any practitioner to perform any work or services for the Society, or to appear before any court, tribunal, or other body in any of the foregoing matters or in any other matters in which the Society is concerned or interested:

• (f) To pay all costs, witnesses' expenses, and other payments incidental to or connected with any application or proceedings to which the Society is a party or at the hearing of which it is entitled to appear:

• (g) To pay the whole or any part of the expenses incurred by members in attending meetings of the Council of the Society or meetings of any committee appointed by the Council:

• (h) To establish or join in establishing any body, whether incorporated or not and whether in New Zealand or elsewhere, for the purpose of the exercise of any of the Society's functions or powers:

• (i) To act in combination or association with, or otherwise co-operate with, any person or body, whether incorporated or not, and whether in New Zealand or elsewhere, for the purpose of the exercise of any of the Society's functions or powers.

(3) Without limiting paragraphs (h) and (i) of subsection (2) of this section, the Society may act in combination or association with, or otherwise co-operate with, any body, whether incorporated or not, having in relation to the legal profession in any country other than New Zealand broadly the same purposes and objects as the Society has in relation to that profession in New Zealand, for the purpose of assisting that body to perform in that country any function referred to in any of paragraphs (a), (e), and (f) of section 4(1) of this Act.

(1) The Society may provide, whether by way of financial assistance or otherwise, for the establishment, in such localities as it may from time to time think fit, of law offices or legal advice bureaux, whether it is intended that such offices or bureaux shall be operated by a practitioner or practitioners employed by the Society, or a practitioner or firm of practitioners on his or their own account, or by members of the Society on a voluntary or rostered basis, or otherwise.

(2) The Society may from time to time, as circumstances require and as it may consider necessary or desirable, maintain and operate or subsidise the maintenance and operation of such offices or bureaux to the intent that as full and proper a legal service as may be practicable shall be provided for members of the public in any such locality.

(3) The Council may from time to time, in writing, grant to any body of persons operating or intending to operate a law office or legal advice bureau in any locality in which there is or (but for the office or bureau) would be an unmet legal need, or to any solicitor employed by any such body in any such office or bureau, exemption from all or any of the provisions of sections 64, 66, and 67(1) of this Act; and every such exemption shall have effect according to its tenor.

(4) The Society may, after consultation with the body of persons concerned, impose in respect of any such exemption such conditions as the Society thinks fit, including any condition designed to ensure that, in general, the law office or legal advice bureau does not undertake any class of legal work in respect of which there is no unmet legal need in that locality.

(5) The Society may at any time—

• (a) Revoke any exemption granted under subsection (3) of this section; or

• (b) Revoke or vary any condition imposed under subsection (4) of this section, or impose any new condition under that subsection.

(6) In this section the expression unmet legal need, in relation to any locality, includes legal work required by residents of the locality which, because of the uneconomic nature of the work or the unavailability of practitioners willing to undertake the work, is not being adequately undertaken by practitioners in the ordinary course of their practice.

(1) For the purposes of subsections (1)(b) and (2) of section 66 of this Act (which relate to a person under suspension or struck off the roll acting in a solicitor's business) the operation by any person or body of persons of any office or bureau to which section 6 of this Act applies shall be taken to be the carrying on of the business of a solicitor; and those provisions shall, with all necessary modifications, apply accordingly.

(2) For the purposes of section 67(2) of this Act (which relates to the employment of a person under suspension or struck off the roll) the operation by a solicitor of any such office or bureau shall be taken to be the carrying on of his business as a solicitor; and that provision shall, with all necessary modifications, apply accordingly.

(3) Every person, not being a practitioner but being an operator or one of the operators of any such office or bureau, commits an offence against this Act who, without the sanction of the Court or of the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal, employs or permits to act as a clerk or otherwise in or about the business of the office or bureau any other person whom he knows to be under suspension from practice as a barrister or solicitor or to have had his name struck off the roll otherwise than at his own request.

(4) Part 6 of this Act (which relates to solicitors' trust accounts), sections 91I to 91N of this Act (which relate to solicitors' nominated trust accounts), and any rules made under section 17(2)(e) of this Act shall, with all necessary modifications, apply with respect to the operation of any such office or bureau.

(5) A District Council, a complaints committee, and the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal shall have jurisdiction under Part 7 of this Act to deal with any complaint or matter relating to the conduct of any person employed in any such office or bureau as if he were an employee of a practitioner; and the provisions of that Part shall, so far as they are applicable and with all necessary modifications, apply accordingly.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) of this section, an order may be made or revoked under subsection (2) or subsection (6) of section 114 of this Act in respect of the employment of a person in any such office or bureau, whether or not the order or revocation relates also to his employment by a practitioner; and every operator of any such office or bureau (not being a practitioner) who knowingly acts in contravention of any order made under the said subsection (2) commits an offence against this Act.

(7) Part 9 of this Act (which relates to the Solicitors' Fidelity Guarantee Fund) shall, with all necessary modifications, apply to any such office or bureau as if the operation of the office or bureau were the carrying on by a solicitor of the practice of his profession on his own account without partners; and for the purposes of that Part, as applied by this subsection, all fees and levies shall be payable in the same manner and at the same times as they are payable by solicitors.

(1) The Society may establish a fund for the purpose of providing pecuniary and other assistance to persons in need of such assistance who are or have at any time been members or employees of the Society, or to the dependants of any such person, or to the dependants of any such member or employee who is deceased.

(2) The fund shall consist of—

• (a) Such part of its income as the Society decides from time to time to set aside for the purpose:

• (b) Any donations, gifts, or bequests made to the Society for the purposes of the fund:

• (c) The interest from time to time accruing from the investment of the fund:

• (d) Any other money that may be lawfully paid into the fund.

(3) The fund shall be administered by the Council on behalf of the Society.

(4) All money in the fund may be invested in any manner in which trustees are for the time being authorised to invest trust funds.

(5) All money that, immediately before the commencement of this Act, was standing to the credit of, or was invested on behalf of, the fund established under section 115 of the Law Practitioners Act 1955 shall, on the commencement of this Act, be deemed to be standing to the credit of, or be invested on behalf of, a fund established under this section, and may be applied and dealt with accordingly.

(1) The Society, if authorised by its rules to do so, may by resolution of the Council impose on its members a levy or levies not exceeding in the aggregate in any year an amount equal to one-quarter of the practising fee payable for that year under section 60 of this Act for each member.

(2) Subject to subsection (1) of this section, any resolution under this section may provide—

• (a) For payment of the levy by all members, or by any specified class or classes of members, or by members practising in any specified part or parts of New Zealand:

• (b) For the payment of different amounts by different classes of members, or by members practising in different parts of New Zealand.

(3) The amount of any such levy shall be payable in such manner as the Society's rules may prescribe or authorise, and shall be recoverable on behalf of the Society as a debt due to it.

(1) The Society shall have—

• (a) A President:

• (b) Such number of Vice-Presidents as is prescribed by the Society's rules:

• (c) In such circumstances as are prescribed by the Society's rules, a President-elect:

• (d) A Treasurer.

(2) The President and the other officers referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall be elected from time to time by the Council in accordance with the Society's rules.

(1) There shall be a Council of the Society, consisting of—

• (a) The President, the Vice-Presidents, the President-elect (if any), and the Treasurer:

• (b) Such number of other members, elected by District Law Societies from their own members, as is prescribed by the Society's rules.

(2) Every member elected by a District Law Society shall be elected annually in such manner as is prescribed by that society's rules and shall, unless he sooner vacates office otherwise than by effluxion of time, hold office until his successor is elected.

(3) Every elected member shall be eligible for re-election.

(4) If at any time a District Law Society fails to elect a member, the District Council may do so in its stead, and the fact that the District Council at any time so elects shall be sufficient evidence of its authority to do so.

(5) Any member of the Council who is unable to attend a meeting of the Council may by writing under his hand appoint, from among members of the District Law Society that he represents, a practitioner to act in his stead at that meeting.

(6) The powers of the Council shall not be affected by any vacancy in its membership, or by any failure to elect, or any irregularity in the election of, any member of the Council.

Subject to section 15 of this Act, the Council shall have the sole management of the Society and of its income and property for the purposes and benefit of the Society, and shall have the sole right of nominating, appointing, removing, and prescribing the duties of, such officers as it considers necessary.

(1) The Council may purchase, take on lease, or otherwise acquire, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of, and improve, manage, develop, exchange, turn to account, or otherwise deal with any real or personal property on behalf of the Society, if authorised to do so by the rules of the Society, or by a resolution passed at a general meeting of the Society.

(2) The Council may invest any money of the Society in any manner in which trustees are for the time being authorised to invest trust funds.

The Council may borrow money required for the purposes of the Society; and, for the purposes of securing any money so borrowed, may mortgage, charge, or pledge any right, title, estate, or interest in any real or personal property vested in the Society.

(1) The Council may from time to time appoint an executive committee consisting of members of the Council.

(2) The Council may also from time to time appoint any standing or special committee, or any other body, with such name as the Council may determine; and any person may be appointed to any such committee or body, whether or not he is a practitioner.

(3) The Council, or the President or a Vice-President of the Society acting on behalf of the Council, may from time to time refer any matter to any committee or body appointed under this section for consideration or inquiry or management.

(4) The Council may from time to time delegate to any such committee or body any of the Council's powers and functions other than the power to borrow money, the power to make rules, and this power of delegation.

(5) A committee or body to which any delegation is made under this section may, without confirmation by the Council but subject to any general or special directions of the Council, exercise or perform the delegated powers or functions in like manner and with the same effect as the Council could itself have exercised or performed them.

(6) Any delegation under this section may at any time be revoked or varied by the Council; and no such delegation shall prevent the exercise of any power or function by the Council.

(7) Until any such delegation is revoked, it shall continue in force according to its tenor.

(1) The Council may from time to time elect any person to be an honorary member or an associate member of the Society in accordance with the Society's rules.

(2) No honorary member or associate member shall be eligible for election as an officer of the Society or a member of the Council, or entitled to vote at any meeting of the Society.

(1) The Council may from time to time make rules providing for the regulation and good government of the Society and its members and its affairs, and also making any provision that may be necessary or desirable for the effective exercise of the Society's functions and powers.

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1) of this section, the Council may make rules—

• (a) Prescribing the number of Vice-Presidents of the Society; prescribing the circumstances in which a President-elect shall be elected and shall take office as President; prescribing the number of members of the Council to be elected by District Law Societies; and prescribing the manner and times of electing the President, Vice-Presidents, President-elect, Treasurer, and other members of the Council, the period or periods of their continuance in office, the manner in which any member of the Council may vacate office, and the manner and time in which any vacancy, however occurring, shall be filled:

• (b) Providing for and regulating the holding of meetings of the Council, and prescribing the quorum and the procedure at meetings:

• (c) Providing for the convening of general meetings of the Society and prescribing the procedure at such meetings:

• (d) Regulating in respect of any matters the professional practice, conduct, and discipline of practitioners:

• (e) Regulating the keeping of trust accounts by solicitors, and the receipt, banking, payment, investment, and recording of money entrusted to solicitors; and requiring the keeping of registers of property, authorities, and appointments held by solicitors:

• (ea) Requiring that a solicitor who intends to set up on his or her own account, or who manages or administers trust accounts, must undertake training in trust account management and in the obligations of solicitors in relation to trust accounts. Such rules may, without limitation,—

  • (i) Provide that the training must be undertaken at specified times or frequencies, or in specified circumstances:

  • (ii) Require that a particular course or courses be undertaken, or (in addition, or as an alternative) require that the training comply with specified requirements or be provided by a particular agency or agencies:

  • (iii) Provide that satisfactory results from assessment or examination be required as part of the training:

  • (iv) Exempt, or provide for the exemption of, any solicitor or class of solicitor from all or any rules made under this paragraph:

  • (v) Provide that fees may be charged to any person applying for or undertaking the training required by rules made under this paragraph:

• (f) Prescribing the duties of persons appointed to conduct examinations of solicitors' accounts under section 85 of this Act, and prescribing the duties of solicitors in relation to such examinations and the circumstances in which any such solicitor may be required to pay the cost of any such examination:

• (fa) Requiring that holders of practising certificates, or any class of holders of practising certificates, undertake ongoing legal education relating to the law or the practice of law. Such rules may, without limitation,—

  • (i) Provide for the times or frequencies at which the legal education must be undertaken, and the topics to be addressed:

  • (ii) Require that particular legal education be undertaken, or (in addition, or as an alternative) require that the legal education comply with specified requirements:

  • (iii) Exempt, or provide for the exemption of, any holder or class of holder of a practising certificate, from all or any rules made under this paragraph:

  • (iv) Provide that fees may be charged to any person applying for or receiving legal education required by rules made under this paragraph:

• (g) Regulating the formation, operation, management, and winding up of solicitors' nominee companies for the investment of money in contributory mortgages or other securities on behalf of clients:

• (h) Empowering the Council to give rulings in respect of the application of any rules under this section and requiring the observance of such rulings by practitioners:

• (i) Prescribing offences in respect of the contravention of or non-compliance with any rules made under this section, and the amounts of the fines that may be imposed by the Society in respect of any such offences, not exceeding,—

  • (i) In respect of any offence against a rule made under any of the provisions of paragraphs (d) to (h) of this subsection, $5,000; and

  • (ii) In respect of any offence against a rule made under any provision of this section (other than a provision of paragraphs (d) to (h) of this subsection), $500:

• (j) Providing for the recovery, as a debt due to the Society, of any fine imposed by the Society under a rule made under this section.

(3) The Council may also make rules—

• (a) Requiring practitioners or any class of practitioners to arrange, in such manner and for such minimum amounts as may be prescribed in the rules, indemnity against liability to pay claims made against them in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by them as practitioners:

• (b) For the purpose of providing such indemnity, authorising or requiring the Council to do either or both of the following things:

  • (i) To establish and maintain such fund or funds that may be disbursed in such manner as may be provided in the rules:

  • (ii) To take out and maintain insurance with authorised insurers as agents for practitioners.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3) of this section, any rules made for the purposes of that subsection may—

• (a) Specify the terms and conditions on which indemnity is to be available, and any circumstances in which the right to it is to be excluded or modified:

• (b) Provide for the management, administration, and protection of any fund maintained by virtue of paragraph (b)(i) of that subsection; provide for all costs and expenses incurred in the management, administration, and protection of the fund to be met out of the fund; and require practitioners or any class of practitioners to make payments to the fund:

• (c) Require practitioners or any class of practitioners to make payments by way of premium on any insurance policy maintained by the Council by virtue of paragraph (b)(ii) of that subsection:

• (d) Authorise the Council to determine the amount of any payments required by the rules, subject to such limits or in accordance with such provisions as may be prescribed by the rules:

• (e) Require practitioners to supply to the Council from time to time such information and statistics as may be necessary for the purposes of that subsection:

• (f) Authorise the Council to enter into contracts of reinsurance for the purposes of any scheme under that subsection:

• (g) Specify circumstances in which, where a practitioner for whom indemnity is provided has failed to comply with the rules, the Council or insurers may take proceedings against him in respect of sums paid by way of indemnity in connection with a matter in relation to which he has so failed to comply:

• (h) Specify circumstances in which practitioners or any class of practitioners are exempt from the rules or any provision of them:

• (i) Empower the Council to take such reasonable steps as it considers necessary or desirable to ascertain whether or not the rules are being complied with:

• (j) Make such incidental, procedural, or supplementary provisions as are necessary to give full effect to that subsection.

(5) No rule made under this section in respect of any matter shall be held to be invalid on the ground that power is conferred by some other provision of this Act to make a regulation in respect of that matter; but so far as any such rule conflicts with any regulation so made it shall be read subject to that regulation.

(1) All District Law Societies constituted under the Law Practitioners Act 1955 and existing at the commencement of this Act are hereby constituted District Law Societies under this Act as the same societies, without change of corporate entity or otherwise.

(2) Any such society may at any time, by resolution passed at a general meeting, change its name from “The Law Society of the District of [Name of District]” to “The [Name of District] District Law Society”.

(1) The practitioners who have their places of business, or, if they are practising in more than one district, their principal places of business, within any proposed district (not comprising the whole of any then existing district) and who are present at a meeting duly convened in accordance with subsection (4) of this section may, with the prior consent of every District Law Society having any part of its district within the proposed district, and also of the Council of the New Zealand Law Society, resolve that a District Law Society be constituted for the proposed district, under the name of “The [Name of District] District Law Society”.

(2) Every such resolution shall be published in the Gazette.

(3) On the publication of the resolution, the District Law Society shall be deemed to be constituted; and all practitioners then having their places of business, or, if they are practising in more than one district, their principal places of business, within the new district, and all practitioners thereafter becoming members pursuant to section 23 of this Act, shall be members of the new District Law Society and subject to its rules.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the meeting shall be duly convened if—

• (a) A circular signed by any 2 or more practitioners entitled to attend the meeting, stating the purpose for which it is to be held and the time and place for holding it, is delivered or sent by post to every such practitioner at least 7 clear days before the day named in the circular as the day of the meeting; and

• (b) Notice of the meeting is also given by advertisement in a newspaper circulating in the proposed district.

(5) The accidental omission to deliver or send the circular to any one or more of the practitioners shall not render the proceedings at any such meeting invalid.

(6) No business of any kind shall be transacted at any such meeting or at any adjournment of it unless at least one-third of all practitioners entitled to attend are present or are represented by proxies appointed in writing under their hands.

(7) The practitioners present at any such meeting or at any adjournment of it may elect a President, a Vice-President, and members of a Council of the society of the new district, and such other officers as are considered expedient; and may also make rules for the new society, which shall have effect as if they had been made by the society under section 27 of this Act.

(8) The persons so elected shall assume office, and the rules so made shall come into force, as soon as the society is deemed to be constituted.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, any 2 or more District Law Societies may from time to time, by written agreement, alter the boundaries between their respective districts.

(2) No such agreement shall come into force until—

• (a) Every District Law Society having the boundaries of its district affected by the agreement has ratified it by a resolution passed at a general meeting of the society; and

• (b) A copy of the agreement, together with notice of every such ratification, has been published in the Gazette.

(3) On such publication, the agreement shall have effect to alter the boundaries between the districts according to its tenor as from the date of publication or such later date as may be specified in the agreement.

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, any 2 or more District Law Societies (in this section referred to as participating societies) may, with the prior consent of the Council of the New Zealand Law Society, agree in writing to amalgamate their districts.

(2) No such agreement shall come into force until—

• (a) Every participating society has ratified it by resolution passed at a general meeting of the society; and

• (b) A copy of the agreement, together with notice of every such ratification, has been published in the Gazette.

(3) Every such agreement shall make provision for—

• (a) The transfer to one of the participating societies (in this section referred to as the continuing society) of the property and liabilities of the other or others of the participating societies; and

• (b) The dissolution, without any further formal act, of each of the participating societies, other than the continuing society; and

• (c) The continuation or alteration, as the case may be, of the name of the continuing society; and

• (d) Such alterations (if any) of the rules of the continuing society as are necessary or desirable to ensure that the amalgamation shall be fully and effectively carried out and as may be lawfully made under section 27 of this Act; and

• (e) All such incidental, consequential, and supplementary matters as are necessary or desirable to ensure that the amalgamation shall be fully and effectively carried out.

(4) In this section the term property includes property, rights, powers, and functions of every description; and the term liabilities includes duties.

(5) On publication in accordance with subsection (2)(b) of this section, every person who, by virtue of section 23 of this Act, is a member of one of the participating societies (other than the continuing society) shall become a member of the continuing society, subject to that section.

(1) A District Law Society may, with the prior consent of the Council of the New Zealand Law Society, change its name by passing a resolution at a general meeting changing the society's name to such new name as is specified in the resolution.

(2) Where a resolution to which subsection (1) of this section applies is passed, the District Law Society shall, as soon as possible, publish a copy of that resolution in the Gazette.

(3) On such publication, the resolution shall have effect to change the name of the District Law Society as from the date of publication or such later date as may be specified in the resolution.

(4) A change of name by a District Law Society under this section shall not affect any rights or obligations of the society or any of its members, or render defective any legal proceedings by or against the society, and any legal proceedings that might have been continued or commenced against it by its former name may be continued or commenced against it by its new name.

(1) Every District Law Society shall be a body corporate, with perpetual succession and a common seal, and shall be capable of holding real and personal property and of doing and suffering all that bodies corporate may do and suffer.

(2) The seal of each District Law Society shall be such as its Council from time to time determines, and shall not be affixed to any document except in the presence of 3 members of that Council, who shall attest the execution of the document accordingly.

(1) Subject to section 24 of this Act, every person who is the holder of a current practising certificate as a barrister or solicitor or both shall, whether or not he applies for membership, be a member of the District Law Society of the district in which for the time being he has his place of business, or, if he practises in more than one district, of the district in which for the time being he has his principal place of business.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, if a practitioner changes his place of business or, as the case may be, his principal place of business from one district to another, he shall forthwith give notice of that fact to the District Law Society of each of those districts.

(3) Every member of a District Law Society who ceases to be the holder of a current practising certificate shall thereupon cease to be a member of that society, unless he retains his membership in accordance with subsection (4) of this section.

(4) Any person who, not being the holder of a current practising certificate, is for the time being enrolled as a barrister and solicitor may, in accordance with the rules of any District Law Society, be retained or admitted as a member of that society.

(5) If a member of a District Law Society is suspended from practice as both a barrister and a solicitor, he shall thereupon cease to be a member of that society during the period of his suspension.

(6) If a member of a District Law Society has his name struck off or removed from the roll, he shall forthwith cease to be a member of that society.

(1) In this section the expression conscientious belief means a conscientious belief honestly, sincerely, and personally held, whether or not the grounds of the belief are of a religious character, and whether or not the belief is held as part of the doctrine of a religion, religious denomination, or sect.

(2) If any person objects on the grounds of conscientious belief to being a member of a District Law Society, he may apply to the District Council for exemption from membership of the society.

(3) If, after giving the applicant a reasonable opportunity to be heard or to make representations, the District Council is satisfied that the applicant's conscientious belief is genuine, it may exempt him from membership of the society subject to such conditions, whether as to the observance of any of the society's rules or otherwise, as the District Council thinks fit; and, while any such exemption continues and all conditions governing it are complied with, the person to whom it is granted shall not be a member of the District Law Society.

(4) The granting of any such exemption shall not relieve the person exempted from—

• (a) Liability to pay any levy under this Part or Part 9 or Part 10 of this Act; or

• (b) Liability to any penalty for a breach of the rules of the society of which he would, but for the exemption, be a member, so far as those rules are not excluded by the conditions of the exemption; and any such rules not so excluded shall apply to him as if he were a member.

(5) Nothing in this section shall affect Part 7 of this Act (which relates to discipline), and that Part shall apply to the exempted person as if he were a member of the District Law Society.

(1) Any District Law Society, if authorised by its rules to do so, may by resolution impose on its members a levy or levies not exceeding in the aggregate in any year such sum as it may from time to time determine in accordance with its rules for each member.

(2) Any resolution under this section may provide—

• (a) For payment of the levy by all members, or by any specified class or classes of members, or by members practising in any specified part or parts of the society's district:

• (b) For the payment of different amounts by different classes of members or by members practising in different parts of the society's district.

(3) The amount of any such levy shall be payable in such manner as the society's rules may prescribe or authorise, and shall be recoverable on behalf of the District Law Society as a debt due to it.

(1) Subject to this Act and to the rules of the New Zealand Law Society, every District Law Society shall have within its district the same functions and powers as the New Zealand Law Society has under this Part of this Act, except the power to impose levies under section 9 of this Act.

(2) Every District Law Society shall also have the function of providing and maintaining law libraries in such towns in its district as the District Council directs.

(3) Every such library shall be for the use of the High Court and such other Courts as the District Council directs, and of practitioners, and shall be managed as the District Council directs.

(1) Subject to the rules of the New Zealand Law Society, every District Law Society may from time to time make rules for that District Law Society for any of the purposes for which rules can be made for the New Zealand Law Society under section 17 of this Act, except the purposes specified in paragraphs (d) to (g) of subsection (2), and in subsection (3), of that section.

(2) All rules made under this section shall, subject to the rules of the New Zealand Law Society, have effect according to their tenor in respect of that District Law Society.

(1) Every District Law Society shall have a Council consisting of a President of the society, a Vice-President of the society, and such number of other members as is prescribed by the society's rules.

(2) Every District Law Society may also have such other officers, whether members of the Council or not, as may be so prescribed.

(3) The President, Vice-President, members of the Council, and other officers shall be elected or appointed in such manner as is so prescribed.

The Council of every District Law Society shall, subject to this Act and to the society's rules, have in respect of that society the same powers (except the powers to impose levies and to make rules) as the Council of the New Zealand Law Society has in respect of the Society under this Part of this Act.

(1) Any member of a District Law Society who is aggrieved by the decision of that society or of the District Council in any matter affecting himself may appeal from that decision to the Council of the New Zealand Law Society.

(2) The Council of the New Zealand Law Society shall hear and consider the appeal in such manner as it directs, and may, after giving the appellant a reasonable opportunity to be heard or to make representations, confirm, reverse, or modify the decision appealed against.

(3) The decision of the Council of the New Zealand Law Society shall be final and conclusive.

(4) Nothing in this section shall apply to any decision of a District Law Society or District Council under Part 7 of this Act.

(1) There shall continue to be a Council of Legal Education.

(2) The Council shall comprise—

• (a) Two Judges of the High Court, nominated by the Chief Justice:

• (b) A District Court Judge, nominated by the Chief District Court Judge:

• (c) Five members nominated by the New Zealand Law Society:

• (d) The Dean of the Faculty or School of Law of each of the following Universities, namely, the University of Auckland, the University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Canterbury, and the University of Otago:

• (e) Two members nominated by the Council of the New Zealand Law Students' Association Incorporated:

• (f) One member (not being a practitioner or a law student) nominated by the Minister of Justice:

• (g) Not more than one member nominated by the Council.

(3) All members of the Council other than those referred to in subsection (2)(d) of this section shall be appointed by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Attorney-General.

(1) The Council is a body corporate, with perpetual succession and a common seal, and, except as provided in this Act, has—

• (a) All the rights, powers, and privileges of a natural person; and

• (b) The power to do any other thing it is authorised to do by—

  • (i) This Act; or

  • (ii) Any other enactment; or

  • (iii) Any rule of law.

(2) The Council shall not exercise any of its rights, powers, or privileges except for the purpose of performing its functions.

(3) Sections 153 to 156 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 apply to the Council as if it were a Crown entity within the meaning of that Act.

No member of the Council is personally liable for any act done or omitted by the member, or the Council,—

• (a) In good faith; and

• (b) In pursuance or intended pursuance of the Council's functions.

(1) Every appointed member of the Council shall hold office for a term of not more than 3 years, but shall be eligible for reappointment from time to time.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) of this section, the first member appointed under section 31(2)(e) of this Act may be appointed for such term as the Governor-General thinks fit, and shall be eligible for reappointment from time to time.

(3) Unless he sooner vacates his office under section 33 of this Act, every appointed member, other than one nominated under section 31(3) of this Act, shall continue in office until his successor comes into office, notwithstanding that his term of office may have expired.

(1) Any appointed member of the Council may at any time resign his office by writing addressed to the Chairman or Secretary of the Council.

(2) If any appointed member dies or resigns, his office shall become vacant and the vacancy shall be deemed to be a casual vacancy.

(3) Every casual vacancy in the office of an appointed member, other than a member nominated under section 31(3) of this Act, shall as soon as practicable be filled by the appointment of a new member in the manner in which the original appointment was made

No act or proceeding of the Council, or of any committee of the Council, or of any person acting as a member of the Council or any such committee, shall be invalidated merely because of a vacancy in the number of the Council or committee at the time of the act or proceeding, or of the subsequent discovery that there was some defect in the appointment of any person so acting, or that he was incapable of being or had ceased to be such a member.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Council may from time to time appoint one of its members to be the Chairman of the Council.

(2) If the Chief Justice is a member, he shall be the Chairman unless he otherwise determines.

(3) If the Chairman is an appointed member (other than the Chief Justice), he shall hold the office of Chairman while he remains in office as an appointed member, unless he sooner resigns the office of Chairman.

(4) If the Chief Justice is the Chairman, he shall vacate that office if he ceases to be a member of the Council or determines that he shall cease to be the Chairman.

(5) If the Chairman is not an appointed member, he shall hold that office for such period as the Council shall determine or until he sooner ceases to be a member or resigns the office of Chairman.

(1) Meetings of the Council shall be held at least once in each year and at such times and places as the Chairman or the Council determines.

(2) At any meeting of the Council, a quorum shall consist of any 8 members of the Council.

(3) Any member who is unable to be present at a meeting of the Council or any committee of the Council may appoint some other person to attend in his place.

(4) The fact that any person so attends shall be sufficient evidence of his authority to do so; and, while attending, he shall be deemed to be a member of the Council.

(5) The Chairman shall preside at every meeting of the Council at which he is present.

(6) If at any meeting the Chairman is not present or there is no Chairman, the Council may appoint some member present to act as Chairman for that meeting; and the person so appointed shall in respect of that meeting have all the powers of the Chairman.

(7) At any meeting of the Council, the person presiding shall have a deliberative vote, and, in the case of an equality of votes, shall also have a casting vote.

(8) Every question before the Council shall be decided by a majority of the valid votes recorded on the question.

(9) A resolution signed by all the members of the Council for the time being present in New Zealand and not incapacitated by disability from attending a meeting shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a duly constituted meeting of the Council; but the Chairman shall report to the Council every resolution so signed since its previous meeting, and lay before it a copy of every such resolution.

(10) Except as expressly provided in this Act, the Council may determine its own procedure.

(1) The Chairman of the Council shall call a special meeting of the Council on the requisition in writing of any 3 members.

(2) Notice of the meeting shall be posted to each member at his usual address at least 7 clear days before the date of the meeting.

(1) The functions and powers of the Council shall be—

• (a) Subject to this Act, to define and prescribe, from time to time and as it thinks fit, the courses of study for—

  • (i) The examinations in general knowledge and law, and the other qualifications (if any), additional to those prescribed by this Act, required by candidates for admission as barristers and solicitors of the Court (including qualifications as to practical training and experience); and

  • (ii) The examinations, and the other qualifications (if any), required by people who want recognised legal training otherwise than as a barrister or solicitor (including qualifications as to practical training and experience):

• (b) To arrange the provision of those courses of study:

• (c) Subject to this Act, to grant to any candidate for admission as a barrister and solicitor such credits (whether ad eundem or otherwise) or exemptions as it thinks fit, and on such conditions as it thinks fit, for the purposes of any course of study:

• (d) To encourage, and where the Council thinks it necessary or appropriate, to arrange provision for, research and post-graduate study:

• (e) To tender advice to the Council of any University on any matter relating to legal education:

• (f) To inquire into, consider, and report to the Minister of Justice on any matter relating to legal education as the Minister may from time to time require:

• (g) Subject to this Act and any other Act, to do whatever it considers necessary or expedient in order that it may best accomplish the purposes for which it exists.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1) of this section, the Council may, in exercising its powers under paragraph (c) of that subsection, require that a candidate so credited or exempted shall pass an examination in the law of New Zealand or in the practice of law in New Zealand or in both.

(3) The Council may charge any person or organisation any reasonable fees it thinks fit in respect of—

• (a) Any matter the person or organisation submits to the Council for its consideration:

• (b) Any work or services the Council has done or performed for the person or organisation:

• (c) Enrolling for or sitting any examination conducted or proposed to be conducted by or on behalf of the Council.

(1) Subject to this Act, the Council may from time to time make such regulations as may be necessary or expedient in respect of—

• (a) Any course of study and the practical training and experience of candidates for admission as barristers and solicitors of the Court:

• (b) Any matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or with respect to which regulations are necessary or expedient for giving effect to the provisions of this Act, in relation to legal education.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1) of this section, regulations made under that subsection may make provision for the granting of credits or exemptions in special circumstances or in order to avoid hardship to any student.

(3) All such regulations shall have effect according to their tenor, and shall be published by the Council.

(4) A copy of any such regulation certified by the Chairman of the Council shall be sufficient evidence of it in all courts.

(5) For the purposes of this section, notice shall be taken judicially, without further proof, of the appointment or right to the office of the Chairman and his signature.

(1) The Council may from time to time appoint standing or special committees, and may refer to any such committee any matters for consideration or inquiry or management.

(2) The Council may from time to time delegate any of its powers and functions (including any powers and functions which it has by delegation from any other body or person, but not including this power of delegation, and not including the power to make regulations) to any such committee or to any person.

(3) A committee to which or a person to whom any delegation is made under this section may, without confirmation by the Council, exercise or perform the delegated powers or functions in the same manner and with the same effect as the Council could itself have exercised or performed them.

(4) It shall not be necessary for any person who is appointed to be a member of any such committee or to whom any delegation is made to be a member of the Council.

(5) The Council may, with the consent of the Council of any University in New Zealand, delegate to the Council of that University any of the powers and functions of the Council, other than the power to make regulations, together with power to subdelegate the same.

(6) Every delegation under this section shall be revocable at will; and no such delegation shall prevent the exercise of any power or function by the maker of the delegation.

(7) Until any such delegation is revoked, it shall continue in force according to its tenor.

The members of the Council, and the members of any committee appointed by the Council, shall be paid such fees, salaries, and allowances, and such travelling allowances and expenses, as the Council from time to time determines with the approval of the Minister.

(1) The Council may appoint any employees it thinks necessary for the efficient performance of its functions.

(2) Subject to the employee's terms and conditions of employment, the Council may at any time terminate or suspend the employment of any employee.

(3) Employees appointed under subsection (1) of this section shall be employed on such terms and conditions of employment, and shall be paid such salaries and allowances, as the Council from time to time determines, after consultation with the State Services Commission.

(4) Any determination under subsection (3) of this section shall take effect on a day (whether the day it is made or any earlier or later day) specified in it.

(5) If no day is specified, the determination shall take effect on the date it is made.

(1) The Council shall operate a personnel policy that complies with the principle of being a good employer.

(2) For the purposes of this clause, a 'good employer' is an employer that operates a personnel policy containing provisions generally accepted as necessary for the fair and proper treatment of employees in all aspects of their employment, including provisions requiring—

• (a) Good and safe working conditions; and

• (b) An equal employment opportunities programme; and

• (c) The impartial selection of suitably qualified people for appointment; and

• (d) Recognition of—

  • (i) The aims and aspirations of Maori; and

  • (ii) The employment requirements of Maori; and

  • (iii) The need for greater involvement of Maori as employees of the employer operating the policy; and

• (e) Opportunities for the enhancement of the abilities of individual employees; and

• (f) Recognition of the aims and aspirations, and the cultural differences, of ethnic or minority groups; and

• (g) Recognition of the employment requirements of women; and

• (h) Recognition of the employment requirements of people with disabilities.

(1) The Council—

• (a) Shall each year develop and publish an equal employment opportunities programme:

• (b) Shall each year ensure that the equal employment opportunities programme for that year is complied with.

(2) For the purposes of this section and section 42A of this Act, an equal employment opportunities programme is a programme aimed at identifying and eliminating all aspects of policies, procedures, and other institutional barriers that cause or perpetuate, or tend to cause or perpetuate, inequality in respect of the employment of any people or group of people.

(3) The Council shall include in every annual report a statement of the extent to which its equal employment opportunities programme for the year to which the report relates was complied with.

(1) For the purpose of providing a superannuation fund or retiring allowance for any of the employees of the Council, sums by way of subsidy may from time to time be paid into any scheme under the National Provident Fund Act 1950 containing provision for employer subsidy or into any other employer-subsidised scheme approved by the Minister of Finance for the purposes of this section.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Act, any person who, immediately before becoming an employee of the Council, was a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund under Part 2 or Part 2A of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 shall be deemed for the purposes of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 to be employed in the Government service so long as that person continues to be an employee of the Council; and that Act shall apply to that person in all respects as if that person's service as such an employee of the Council were Government service.

(3) Subject to the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, nothing in subsection (2) of this section entitles any person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund after that person has once ceased to be a contributor.

(4) For the purposes of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, in accordance with subsection (2) of this section, to a person who is in the service of the Council as an employee and is a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund, the term controlling authority, in relation to that person, means the Council.

The Crown, acting through any department of State, may from time to time, at the request of the Council, execute any work or enter into any arrangements for the execution or provision by the department for the Council of any work or service, or for the supply to the Council of any goods, stores, or equipment, on and subject to any terms and conditions agreed between the Council and the department's chief executive.

No person shall be deemed to be employed in the service of the Crown for the purposes of the State Sector Act 1988 or the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 by reason only of that person's membership of the Council or by reason only of that person's employment under section 42 of this Act.

The Council's funds comprise—

• (a) All money appropriated by Parliament for the purposes of the Council and paid to the Council for the purposes of the Council:

• (b) All other money lawfully received by the Council for the purposes of the Council:

• (c) All accumulations of income derived from any such money.

(1) The Council shall open at any bank or banks all accounts necessary for the performance of its functions.

(2) All money received by the Council, or by any employee of the Council, shall, as soon as practicable after it has been received, be paid into bank accounts of the Council from time to time determined by the Council.

(3) The withdrawal or payment of money from any such account shall be authorised in any manner the Council thinks fit.

Any money that belongs to the Council and that is not immediately required for expenditure by the Council may be invested subject to the restrictions in section 161 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.

The common seal of the Council shall be judicially noticed in all Courts for all purposes.

The income of the Council is exempt from income tax.

(1) The Council shall in each year give the Minister a report on the operation of this Part of this Act.

(2) The Council shall include in every annual report the financial statements prepared by the Council, in accordance with Part 4 of the Crown Entities Act 2004, in respect of the financial year to which the report relates, together with the audit report and the management statement relating to those financial statements.

(3) A copy of every annual report of the Council shall be tabled in the House of Representatives in accordance with section 150(3) of the Crown Entities Act 2004.

(1) Every person admitted by the Court or a Judge under this Act shall be admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Court; and no person shall be admitted as a barrister or solicitor only.

(2) Every practitioner admitted only as a barrister of the Court before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed on that commencement to have been admitted as a barrister and solicitor and, subject to this Act and to any order made under it, shall in addition to his right to practise as a barrister be entitled to practise as a solicitor.

(3) Every practitioner admitted only as a solicitor of the Court before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed on that commencement to have been admitted as a barrister and solicitor and, subject to this Act and to any order made under it, shall in addition to his right to practise as a solicitor be entitled to practise as a barrister and, in his capacity as such, to all the rights, powers, and privileges of a barrister.

(4) Subject to this Act and to any order made under it, and to the express provisions of any other enactment, every practitioner shall be entitled while his qualification continues to practise in or before any court or tribunal.

(1) A person is qualified for admission as a barrister and solicitor if he or she is in at least 1 of the categories in this section.

(2) The first category is persons who—

• (a) Are at least 20 years old; and

• (b) Have passed, or been credited with passing, the examination in general knowledge and law prescribed by the Council of Legal Education; and

• (c) Have all the other qualifications for admission (if any) prescribed by the Council of Legal Education.

(3) The second category is persons who—

• (a) Are at least 20 years old; and

• (b) Have been admitted as a barrister, solicitor, advocate, or attorney by a superior court in any other country; and

• (c) Comply with the conditions, hold the qualifications, and pass the examinations required by the Council of the New Zealand Law Society in consultation with the Council of Legal Education.

(4) The third category is persons who have been issued with a certificate by a Registrar stating that the candidate has given notice under section 19 of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 to the Registrar acting as a local registration authority under that Act.

(1) A certificate signed by the Registrar, Deputy Registrar, or Assistant Registrar of any University in New Zealand, or by the Secretary of the Council of Legal Education, that a candidate has passed or been credited with passing the appropriate prescribed examination shall be sufficient evidence of that fact.

(2) For the purposes of this section, notice shall be taken judicially, without further proof, of the appointment and signature of every such Registrar, Deputy Registrar, Assistant Registrar, and Secretary.

(1) A candidate seeking admission on the ground that he or she is qualified under section 44(2) or section 44(3) must apply to the Court in accordance with this Act and with any rules made under this Act.

(2) The Court or a Judge must make an order admitting the candidate as a barrister and solicitor of the Court if—

• (a) The Court or Judge is satisfied that the candidate—

  • (i) Is qualified for admission under section 44(2) or section 44(3); and

  • (ii) Is of good character and a fit and proper person to be admitted; and

• (b) The candidate has taken the following oath:

  “I, AB, swear that I will truly and honestly conduct myself in the practice of a barrister and solicitor according to the best of my knowledge and ability.”

(3) A candidate seeking admission on the ground that he or she is qualified under section 44(4) must apply to the Court.

(4) The Court or a Judge must make an order admitting the candidate as a barrister and solicitor of the Court if the Court or Judge is satisfied that the candidate is qualified for admission under section 44(4).

(1) Where the Governor-General is satisfied—

• (a) That the law relating to the admission of barristers or solicitors of a superior court in any Commonwealth country (other than New Zealand), or in any other common law country or state, is such as to ensure that they possess proper qualifications and competence; and

• (b) That by the law of that Commonwealth country or other common law country or state barristers and solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand will be entitled to admission as barristers or as solicitors of that superior court on terms as favourable as those on which barristers or solicitors of that court will under this Act be entitled to admission as barristers and solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand,—

he may, by Order in Council, order that barristers or solicitors of that superior court who have been in practice before that court for not less than 3 years shall, on giving due notice and the prescribed proof of their qualifications and good character, and on payment of the prescribed fees, but subject to any exceptions, conditions, and modifications specified in the order, be admitted as barristers and solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand without examination.

(2) Any such order may refer to barristers only, or to solicitors only, or to barristers and solicitors, of any such Commonwealth country or other common law country or state.

(3) Every person admitted under any such order shall be deemed to have been duly admitted under this Act.

(4) By the same or any subsequent order, the Governor-General may provide for all matters authorised by this section to be prescribed, and for all matters necessary to give effect to the order and to this section.

Rules, not inconsistent with this Act, may from time to time be made, in the manner prescribed by the Judicature Act 1908, in respect of the evidence of the qualifications, character, and fitness of candidates, and generally in respect of any matter relating to the admission of candidates as barristers and solicitors of the Court.

(1) Every Registrar shall keep in his office a roll of barristers and solicitors of the Court.

(2) Every roll of barristers and every roll of solicitors kept by a Registrar at the date of the commencement of this Act shall at that date be deemed to be incorporated in and to form part of the roll of barristers and solicitors referred to in subsection (1) of this section.

On the making by the Court or a Judge of an order admitting any person as a barrister and solicitor, and on payment of the prescribed admission fee, the Registrar shall place that person's name on the roll.

(1) On the publication in the Gazette of a notice of an order made by the Court of Appeal or the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal, or by the High Court on appeal from the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal, that the name of a practitioner be struck off the roll, the Registrar shall forthwith strike that name off the roll.

(2) On the publication in the Gazette of a notice of an order made by the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal that the name of a person be restored to the roll, and on payment of the prescribed restoration fee, the Registrar shall restore that name to the roll.

(3) In each case the Registrar shall make an entry in the roll of the date and effect of the order and of the fact that it was made by the Court of Appeal or the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal or by the High Court on appeal from that Tribunal, as the case may require.

(1) The Registrar must remove from the roll the name of a practitioner who—

• (a) Was admitted under section 46(4); and

• (b) Had deemed registration under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 at the time he or she was admitted,—

if the Registrar receives written notice from a Registrar acting as a local registration authority that the deemed registration has ceased for a reason set out in section 28(1)(a) or section 28(1)(c) to (e) of that Act.

(2) The Registrar must cause to be published in the Gazette a notice to the effect that the name has been removed from the roll under this section.

(3) The expenses incurred in publishing the notice must be paid by the practitioner.

(1) Any practitioner may at any time, with the prior consent of the Council or executive committee of the New Zealand Law Society acting with the approval of the Council of the District Law Society of which the practitioner is a member, request the Registrar to remove his name from the roll.

(2) Any person whose name has been removed from the roll under this section may at any time, with the prior consent of the Council or executive committee of the New Zealand Law Society acting with the approval of the Council of the District Law Society of which he was a member at the time of such removal, request the Registrar to restore his name to the roll.

(3) On being satisfied that such consent has been given, the Registrar shall—

• (a) Remove the practitioner's name from the roll or, as the case may require, restore it to the roll; and

• (b) Forthwith cause to be published in the Gazette a notice to the effect that the name has been removed from or, as the case may be, restored to the roll at the request of the practitioner under this section.

(4) The expenses incurred in publishing the notice shall be paid by the practitioner.

The Council may from time to time, with the approval of the Minister of Justice, fix fees to be paid to the Society—

• (a) By any candidate for admission as a barrister and solicitor:

• (b) By any person for the restoration of his name to the roll.

(1) No person shall act as a barrister or as a solicitor in any court who is not at the time of his so acting duly enrolled as a barrister and solicitor under or by virtue of this Act.

(2) Every person who acts in contravention of this section—

• (a) Is guilty of a contempt of the court in which he so acts; and

• (b) Commits an offence against this Act.

(1) In this section the expression legal experience, or experience, means experience of any one or more of the following kinds:

• (a) Experience of legal work in the office of a barrister or solicitor or firm of solicitors in active practice on his or their own account:

• (b) Experience of legal work in any of the State services (as defined in section 2 of the State Services Act 1962):

• (c) Experience of legal work in the office of a local authority or in the employ of a company or other body whether incorporated or unincorporated:

• (d) Experience of full-time law teaching in a university:

• (e) Experience as a member of the House of Representatives;—

and includes any such experience before the commencement of this Act.

(2) Except with the leave of the Court given under this section, no practitioner shall commence practice as a solicitor on his own account, whether in partnership or otherwise, unless—

• (a) During the 8 years immediately preceding the date of his so commencing practice, he has had not less than 3 years' legal experience in New Zealand; and

• (b) He has satisfied the District Council that, having regard to the matters referred to in subsection (6) of this section, he is a suitable person to practise on his own account; and

• (c) He has received (whether before or after the commencement of this Act), during the 3 years immediately preceding the date of his so commencing practice, adequate instruction and examination to the satisfaction of the District Council in the duties of a solicitor under this Act, and under any regulations or rules for the time being in force, relating to the audit of solicitors' trust accounts or to the receipt of money.

(3) A practitioner may apply to the Court for leave to commence practice on his own account in either of the following cases:

• (a) Where, during the 8 years immediately preceding the date of the application, he has had less than 3 years' legal experience in New Zealand but otherwise meets the requirements of subsection (2) of this section; or

• (b) Where he has failed to satisfy the District Council that he is a suitable person to practise on his own account but otherwise meets the requirements of subsection (2) of this section.

(4) A copy of any application to the Court under subsection (3) of this section shall be served on the Secretary of the District Law Society for the district in which the application to the Court is made, and that society shall be entitled to be heard on the application.

(5) If, on an application under subsection (3) of this section, the Court is satisfied that, having regard to the matters referred to in subsection (6) of this section, the applicant is a suitable person to practise on his own account, it may grant leave accordingly, subject to such conditions (if any) as in the circumstances it thinks proper.

(6) The matters to which the District Council or the Court shall have regard for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) or subsection (5) of this section are—

• (a) The applicant's age:

• (b) His experience:

• (c) Whether or not he intends to commence practice as a member of a firm:

• (d) The fields in which he intends to practise:

• (e) Such other matters as the District Council or the Court thinks fit.

(7) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this section, a practitioner may at any time commence practice as a solicitor on his own account, whether in partnership or otherwise, if, immediately before the commencement of this Act, he would have been entitled to do so under the Law Practitioners Act 1955 had this Act not been passed; and, for the purposes of this subsection, section 22 of that Act shall apply as if it had not been repealed by this Act.

(8) This section shall not restrict the right of a practitioner—

• (a) To resume practice as a solicitor, if at any time previously (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) he has lawfully practised as a solicitor on his own account:

  Provided that if more than 10 years have elapsed since he last practised as a solicitor he shall not be entitled to resume practice as a solicitor until he has received adequate instruction and examination to the satisfaction of the District Council in the duties referred to in subsection (2)(c) of this section; or

• (b) To act in any law office or legal advice bureau established by or with the approval of the Council of the New Zealand Law Society or a District Council pursuant to section 6 of this Act; or

• (c) To act pursuant to any scheme established by a District Council for the provision of duty solicitors in respect of criminal proceedings.

(9) Every practitioner who commences practice in contravention of this section commits an offence against this Act.

(1) No practitioner shall act as a barrister unless he is the holder of a current practising certificate as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor.

(2) No practitioner shall act as a solicitor unless he is the holder of a current practising certificate as a solicitor or as a barrister and solicitor.

(3) If a practitioner has applied for a practising certificate and has paid the prescribed fees and levies, and is otherwise entitled under this Act to the issue of the certificate, he shall until the certificate is received by him be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be the holder of a current practising certificate of the kind applied for.

(4) Every practitioner who contravenes this section commits an offence against this Act.

(5) No information in respect of an offence under this section shall be laid except by the President or Secretary of a District Law Society.

(6) In any proceedings in respect of an offence under this section, the following shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be sufficient evidence that an offence has been committed:

• (a) A certificate signed by the Secretary of the District Law Society in whose district the defendant has his principal place of business, to the effect that at the time of the alleged offence the defendant was not, and was not deemed to be, the holder of a current practising certificate as a barrister, or as a barrister and solicitor, or as a solicitor, as the case may require:

• (b) A certificate signed by the President of the District Law Society for that district to the effect that the defendant was at the time of the alleged offence acting as a barrister, or as a solicitor, as the case may be, or holding himself out in any such capacity.

(1) Subject to the payment of all the prescribed fees and all levies then payable by the applicant under this Act, the Secretary of a District Law Society, on application made to him for the purpose by any person whose name is on the roll and who intends to have his place of business or (where he intends to have more than one) his principal place of business in that society's district shall issue to him a certificate signed by the Secretary to the effect that he is duly enrolled as a barrister and solicitor of the Court and is entitled to practise as a barrister or as a solicitor or as both, as the case may require.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) to (6) of this section, every such certificate shall be in force—

• (a) If it is issued before the date of the expiry of the current certificate of the same kind held by the applicant, from the 31st day of January next after the date of its issue until the 31st day of January next following:

• (b) In any other case, on and after the date of its issue until the 31st day of January next following.

(3) If the name of a practitioner is removed from or struck off the roll, every practising certificate issued to him by virtue of his being enrolled shall cease to be in force.

(4) If a practitioner is suspended from practice as a barrister or as a solicitor, or as both, any practising certificate issued to him shall, so long as the suspension continues in force, be deemed to be suspended and to be not in force in respect of any capacity to which the suspension relates, unless the certificate sooner expires; and until the suspension ceases to have effect the practitioner shall not be entitled to practise in that capacity.

(5) If a practitioner is adjudicated bankrupt, any practising certificate issued to him shall cease to be in force.

(6) If a practising certificate is issued to a practitioner during the currency of another practising certificate of a different kind held by that practitioner, that other practising certificate shall cease to be in force when the first-mentioned practising certificate comes into force.

(1) Notwithstanding section 57 of this Act, but subject to this section, where a practitioner who intends to apply for a practising certificate as a barrister or as a solicitor or as both—

• (a) Has not at any time during the period of 2 years after his admission, or during the period of 2 years after the expiry of the last practising certificate of any kind issued to him, whichever period is the later, held a current practising certificate of any kind; or

• (b) Is an undischarged bankrupt; or

• (c) Has since the date of his admission or the date of the issue to him of the last practising certificate of any kind, whichever date is the later, been a patient in a hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1969,—

he shall give to the Secretary of the District Law Society not less than 2 months' notice of his intention to so apply.

(2) The Secretary shall immediately refer the notice to the Council of the District Law Society, and shall not issue the certificate unless he is authorised by the District Council to do so.

(3) The District Council may allow such shorter period of notice to be given to the Secretary under subsection (1) of this section as it thinks fit, whether generally or in any particular case.

(4) Any period during which the practitioner has been rendering continuous service as a member of any of the Armed Forces of New Zealand shall not be taken into account in calculating the period of 2 years referred to in subsection (1)(a) of this section.

(5) The District Council shall not authorise the issue of a certificate unless either—

• (a) It is satisfied that the practitioner is of good character and is a fit and proper person to practise as a barrister or as a solicitor or as both, as the case may require; or

• (b) It is directed by the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal to do so.

(6) If the District Council is not satisfied as to the matters referred to in subsection (5)(a) of this section, it shall refer the matter to the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal for decision.

(7) The Tribunal shall inquire into any matter so referred to it, and shall either—

• (a) Direct the District Council to authorise the Secretary to issue the certificate; or

• (b) Make an order prohibiting the Secretary from issuing a certificate to the practitioner, on the ground that the practitioner is not of good character or is not a fit and proper person to practise as a barrister or as a solicitor or as both, as the case may be.

(8) Subject to any appeal under section 118 of this Act, the Secretary shall be bound by any such order.

(9) The Tribunal shall not make an order prohibiting the issue of a certificate without giving the practitioner concerned a reasonable opportunity of being heard, either in person or by counsel, in support of his application.

(10) This section shall not limit or affect the powers of a District Council under section 59 of this Act.

(1) If the Council of a District Law Society is satisfied that any practitioner who is practising within the society's district or is entitled and intends so to practise is, owing to physical or mental disability, incapable of performing his professional duties satisfactorily and that it is necessary in the public interest to prevent him from attempting to practise his profession, the District Council may if it thinks fit, instead of applying to the Court under section 94 of this Act, itself make an order—

• (a) That he shall not practise as a barrister or as a solicitor until he has satisfied the District Council that he is no longer incapacitated; and

• (b) That he shall deposit his current practising certificate (if any) with the District Council in the meantime.

(2) When it makes such an order, the District Council shall cause notice of the order to be given to the Secretary of the District Law Society; and he shall not thereafter issue a fresh certificate without the consent of the District Council.

(3) Any such order may be revoked—

• (a) By the District Council at any time; or

• (b) By either the Council of the New Zealand Law Society or the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal on an appeal by the practitioner to that Council or Tribunal made within 28 days after the date on which the District Council made the order or last refused to revoke it on an application made to it by the practitioner.

(4) For the purposes of this section, a District Council may at any time, if it suspects that owing to physical or mental disability a practitioner is incapable of performing his professional duties satisfactorily, require the practitioner to undergo a medical examination by a medical practitioner nominated by the District Council, the costs of which examination shall be paid by the District Law Society.

(5) If the practitioner refuses or fails to comply with the District Council's requirement under subsection (4) of this section, the District Council shall be entitled to infer, for the purposes of this section, that the practitioner is, owing to physical or mental disability, incapable of performing his professional duties satisfactorily.

(6) A practitioner against whom an order is made under subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of misconduct in his professional capacity if he acts in contravention of or fails to comply with the order.

(7) In subsection (4), medical practitioner means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of medicine.

(1) The Council of the New Zealand Law Society may from time to time,—

• (a) With the approval of the Minister of Justice, fix practising fees to be paid for practising certificates as a barrister and as a solicitor and as both, and the fee to be paid to the Secretary of the District Law Society for the issue of every such certificate:

• (b) Apportion each practising fee between the District Law Society and the New Zealand Law Society, or provide for the payment of the whole fee to either of them.

(2) The District Law Society and the New Zealand Law Society shall each be entitled to receive the prescribed portion (if any) of each practising fee.

(3) On application by any practitioner, the Council of the District Law Society may, if it thinks it just to do so in all the circumstances of the case, refund to him, or waive payment of, the whole or any part of its portion of the fee.

(4) In this section the term District Law Society means the District Law Society within whose district the fee is payable and received.

Subject to this Act, barristers of the Court shall have all the powers, privileges, duties, and responsibilities that barristers have in England.

(1) The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations prescribing—

• (a) The method of appointment of Queen's Counsel:

• (b) The fees to be paid by them:

• (c) Their privileges and duties:

• (d) The conditions on or subject to which they may be appointed or may practise their profession:

• (e) Such other matters as may be necessary in relation to Queen's Counsel.

(2) No barrister of the rank of Queen's Counsel shall practise as a solicitor, either alone or in partnership with any other practitioner, and no practising certificate as a barrister and solicitor, or as a solicitor, shall be issued to any such barrister.

Every person commits an offence against this Act who practises as a solicitor on his own account, whether in partnership or otherwise, in contravention of any order of the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal under—

• (a) Section 112(2)(c) of this Act; or

• (b) Section 116(3) of this Act.

(1) Every person commits an offence against this Act who, not being duly enrolled under this Act,—

• (a) Acts as a solicitor; or

• (b) Holds himself out as being qualified to act as a solicitor; or

• (c) Takes or uses any name, title, addition, or description implying or likely to lead any person to believe that he is qualified to act as a solicitor; or

• (d) Carries on business as a solicitors' agent, or in any way advertises or holds himself out as a solicitors' agent.

(2) It shall not be an offence under subsection (1)(d) of this section for a person—

• (a) To carry on business as a Maori agent, or to advertise or hold himself out as a Maori agent; or

• (b) At the request of a solicitor, to act as his agent in searching any register or in filing, stamping, or registering any document, or in serving any legal process; or

• (c) To hold himself out to solicitors, but not to the public, as an agent for any of the purposes mentioned in paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no person, other than the holder of a current practising certificate as a barrister or as a solicitor or as both, or a person acting under the supervision of such a holder, shall draw or prepare for or on behalf of any other person—

• (a) Any conveyance within the meaning of the Property Law Act 1952 of any real or personal property:

• (b) Any deed within the meaning of the Property Law Act 1952 relating to any real or personal property:

• (c) Any tenancy agreement or agreement evidencing a tenancy, if—

  • (i) The tenancy is for a term of more than 12 months; or

  • (ii) Any right of renewal is conferred on the tenant by the agreement; or

  • (iii) Any charge is made directly or indirectly for the drawing or preparation of the agreement or for any other service incidental to it.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to—

• (a) Any agreement for sale and purchase of land or any interest in land or of the goodwill of a business or of chattels prepared by a real estate agent holding a licence in force under the Real Estate Agents Act 1976:

• (b) Any transfer of shares, stocks, debentures, or chattels containing no trust or limitation thereof:

• (c) Any conveyance, deed, or agreement that is drawn or prepared by filling in a printed form, if—

  • (i) The printed form was drawn or prepared by a person who, at the time when it was drawn or prepared, was the holder of a current practising certificate as a barrister or as a solicitor or as both; and

  • (ii) It could reasonably be expected that the form could be properly completed by the persons likely to complete it, whether or not they were holders of such certificates; and

  • (iii) No charge is made directly or indirectly for the drawing or preparation of the conveyance, deed, or agreement or for any service incidental to it.

(3) Every person who contravenes this section commits an offence against this Act.

(4) In this section the term printed form includes a form of which copies are produced by cyclostyling, or by any duplicating or reproduction process, whether letterpress, photographic, lithographic, multigraphic, or stencilling, or any other similar process.

(1) Every person commits an offence who—

• (a) Not being duly qualified and entitled to act as a solicitor, acts in any respect as a solicitor in any action or matter or in any court in the name or through the agency of a solicitor who is entitled to practise; or

• (b) Being under suspension from practice as a barrister or solicitor, or having had his name struck off the roll, acts without the sanction of the Court or of the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal, as a clerk or otherwise in or about the business of a solicitor.

(2) Every person who commits an offence against this section is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

(1) Every solicitor is guilty of misconduct in his professional capacity who knowingly—

• (a) Acts as agent in any action or matter or in any court for any person who to his knowledge is not duly qualified and entitled to act as a solicitor; or

• (b) Permits or suffers his name to be made use of in any action upon the account or for the profit of any such person; or

• (c) Except for the purposes of section 64(2)(b) of this Act, sends any process to any such person; or

• (d) Does any other act to enable any such person to act in any respect as a solicitor in any action or matter in any court.

(2) Every solicitor is guilty of misconduct in his professional capacity who, without the sanction of the Court or of the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal, knowingly employs or permits to act as a clerk or otherwise in or about his business as a solicitor any person who to his knowledge—

• (a) Is under suspension from practice as a barrister or as a solicitor; or

• (b) Has had his name struck off the roll otherwise than at his own request.

(1) No solicitor who is a prisoner within the meaning of the Corrections Act 2004 may, while the person is a prisoner, sue out any writ or process, or commence or defend or prosecute any action in any court, as a solicitor, whether in his own name or in the name of any other solicitor.

(2) Every solicitor who acts in contravention of this section—

• (a) Is guilty of a contempt of the court in which he so acts; and

• (b) Shall also be incapable of maintaining, in his own name or in the name of any other solicitor, any action in any court for the recovery of any fee, reward, or disbursement in respect of any business, matter, or thing done by him in contravention of this section.

(1) In sections 70 to 77 of this Act—

(2) In sections 71 to 77 of this Act the term power of attorney means a power of attorney given under section 70 or section 71 of this Act.

(1) Every solicitor who, at the commencement of this Act or at any time thereafter, is in practice on his own account without partners shall, within 3 months after the date of the commencement of this Act or, as the case may require, the date of his commencing to be in practice without partners, give to some other solicitor or solicitors entitled to practise on his or their own account a power of attorney, in a form approved by the Council of the New Zealand Law Society, authorising him or them jointly or severally to exercise and perform in the donor's name, during the periods specified in subsection (3) of this section, the powers and duties specified in subsection (4) of this section.

(2) A power of attorney given under this section shall also appoint such a solicitor or solicitors as an alternate or alternates, who shall exercise the powers and duties of the donee in any case where the donee is for the time being unable or unwilling to act.

(3) The periods for which the power of attorney shall be given are—

• (a) Any current or future period or periods during which the donor is wholly or partially incapacitated and unable by reason of his physical or mental condition to conduct his practice; and

• (b) Any current or future period or periods during which the donor is absent from his practice; and

• (c) The period from the date of the donor's death until his administrator (within the meaning of the Administration Act 1969) either lawfully disposes of the practice or revokes the power of attorney; and

• (d) If the donor is suspended from practice, then, subject to the consent of the District Council being obtained at that time to the operation of the power of attorney, any period during which he is so suspended; and

• (e) If the donor has had his name struck off the roll, then, subject to the consent of the District Council being obtained at that time to the operation of the power of attorney, the period from the date on which the name is so struck off until the practice is lawfully disposed of.

(4) Subject to section 73 of this Act, the powers and duties authorised to be exercised and performed by the donee of the power of attorney shall be—

• (a) To conduct the donor's practice; and

• (b) To operate the donor's trust account or accounts; and

• (c) If the case is one to which subsection (3)(e) of this section applies, to dispose of the donor's practice; and

• (d) To do all things necessary for or incidental to the exercise of those powers—

in accordance with and subject to this Act and all rules and regulations made under this Act.

(5) A power of attorney given before the date of the commencement of this Act under section 19 of the Law Practitioners Amendment Act 1961 by a solicitor practising on his own account without partners shall, if it is in force at that date and otherwise conforms to the provisions of this section, be deemed—

• (a) To have been duly given under subsection (1) of this section; and

• (b) To extend and apply in respect of the periods specified in subsection (3) of this section and the powers and duties specified in subsection (4) of this section.

(6) If any solicitor to whom subsection (1) of this section applies fails or refuses to give a power of attorney within the time and in the manner prescribed by that subsection, or if during any period specified in subsection (3) of this section the donee of a power of attorney in force under this section is not exercising his powers or duties under it to the satisfaction of the District Council, the President of the District Law Society of which the solicitor is a member may, of his own motion or pursuant to a resolution of the District Council, execute on behalf of the solicitor a power of attorney in accordance with this section; and any such power of attorney shall have effect as if it had been given by the solicitor under this section.

(7) Before a power of attorney is given under this section the written consent of the intended donee shall be obtained.

(8) While the donor continues to practise on his own account without partners, neither the donor nor the President of the District Law Society (if the power of attorney was given by him) shall revoke the power of attorney unless, at the time of revocation, the donor or the President gives a power of attorney to the same or any other solicitor or solicitors in accordance with this section.

(9) The powers of the donee of any power of attorney given under this section shall terminate—

• (a) If the power of attorney is revoked under this Act; or

• (b) If the donee is released under section 74(2) of this Act,—

but shall not terminate by reason only of the death of the donor or his becoming of unsound mind.

(10) The powers of the donee of any power of attorney given under this section shall not be exercised after the expiration of 1 year from the date of the grant in New Zealand of administration in the estate of the donor, except during such further period or periods as may be approved by the Council of the District Law Society of which the donor was a member.

(11) Nothing in this Act shall prevent—

• (a) The lawful disposal of the practice of the donor; or

• (b) The grant by a solicitor of a power of attorney otherwise than under this Act.

(12) This section shall apply notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Property Law Act 1952 or any rule of law.

(1) While under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 there is a manager of the estate of the donor, the manager may at any time and from time to time suspend the powers of the donee of a power of attorney, and may at any time revoke any such suspension.

(2) Any such manager may at any time, with the prior consent of the Council of the District Law Society of which the donor is a member, and subject to the provisions of this Act applicable to the donor, revoke any power of attorney and give to any other solicitor or solicitors entitled to practise on his or their own account a power of attorney for the same purposes and for the same period as the donor was required to do.

(3) The administrator (within the meaning of the Administration Act 1969) of the estate of a deceased donor may, with the prior consent of the Council of the District Law Society of which the donor was a member, and subject to the provisions of this Act applicable to the donor, revoke a power of attorney and give to any other solicitor or solicitors entitled to practise on his or their own account a power of attorney for the same purposes as the donor was required to do and for the balance remaining of the period specified in section 70(3)(c) of this Act.

(4) Sections 70 and 72 to 77 of this Act, so far as they are applicable and with all necessary modifications, shall apply to a power of attorney given under this section as if it were given by the solicitor to whose practice the power of attorney relates.

Whenever a power of attorney is given in respect of the practice of any solicitor, the person giving it shall forthwith give notice of the fact that it has been given, the date of it, and the name and business address of the donee, to the Secretary of the District Law Society in every district in which the solicitor is practising.

(1) This section applies whenever a power of attorney is given under section 70 or section 71 of this Act in respect of the practice of any solicitor.

(2) The donee shall not begin to act under the power of attorney until he has—

• (a) Produced it for the inspection of the Secretary of the District Law Society in every district in which the solicitor was practising; and

• (b) Given a certified copy of it to every such Secretary; and

• (c) Given notice of it to the auditor of the solicitor's trust account and to the bank where the trust account is kept.

(3) All rules and regulations for the time being in force relating to solicitors' trust accounts and their audit shall apply and be observed in the name and on behalf of the solicitor as if he were personally conducting his practice.

(4) [Repealed]

(1) If a power of attorney is revoked or suspended, or if for any reason the donee of a power of attorney ceases to act under it, written notice of that fact shall forthwith be given, to the Secretary of the District Law Society in every district in which the practice was last conducted, by—

• (a) The donor if he is capable of doing so; and

• (b) The donee if he is capable of doing so; and

• (c) Any other person who revokes or suspends the power of attorney.

(2) If the donee of any power of attorney ceases to act under it while he is capable of so acting, he shall continue to observe and comply with the requirements of the Council of the District Law Society in every district in which the practice was conducted, and shall be personally responsible for the observance of this Act and of all rules and regulations made under this Act, until the power of attorney is revoked or suspended or the donee is released by resolution passed by every such District Council.

(3) When any such District Council passes any such resolution, its Secretary shall forthwith give notice of it to—

• (a) The auditor of the trust account of the solicitor to whose practice the power of attorney relates; and

• (b) The bank where the trust account is kept.

(4) No such release shall be given by any such District Council until it is satisfied by such proof as it requires that it is proper in all the circumstances to do so.

(5) A power of attorney shall be revoked by operation of law when the solicitor to whose practice it relates commences practice in partnership with any other solicitor or solicitors.

Where—

• (a) Under section 73(2)(c) of this Act the donee of a power of attorney has given notice of it to any bank in which a solicitor's trust account is kept; and

• (b) That notice has not been followed by a notice under section 74(3)(b) of this Act of the release of the donee; and

• (c) The bank is requested to close any such trust account, or any such account is closed,—

the bank shall forthwith notify the Secretary of the District Law Society for the district in which the trust account is kept of the request or closure.

(1) A power of attorney shall include provision authorising the donee of the power of attorney to appoint a substitute.

(2) Sections 70 and 73 to 75 and 77 of this Act shall apply to a substitute appointed under such a provision as if he had been appointed as donee by the original power of attorney.

(1) A donee acting under a power of attorney shall, out of the funds of the donor available to him, pay all practising fees, all contributions and levies to the Solicitors' Fidelity Guarantee Fund, and all other amounts for which the donor would have been liable under this Act if he had continued to practise as a solicitor.

(2) While the donor is alive, the donee of the power of attorney shall apply for and obtain in each year the practising certificate of the solicitor to whose practice the power of attorney relates.

(3) The Secretary of the District Law Society of which the solicitor to whose practice the power of attorney relates is a member is hereby empowered, subject to this Act, to issue such a certificate with the approval of the Council of the Society.

(4) No practising certificate shall be issued in respect of a solicitor who has died; but while the practising fees, contributions, levies, and amounts for which he would have been liable are being paid in respect of a solicitor who has died, this Act and all rules and regulations made under this Act shall apply in respect of him as if he were living and the holder of a current practising certificate.

Without prejudice to any of the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act, every solicitor for the time being practising on his own account without partners commits an offence against this Act if, without lawful justification or excuse, he—

• (a) Fails to give a power of attorney in accordance with section 70 of this Act; or

• (b) Revokes a power of attorney otherwise than in accordance with subsection (8) of that section; or

• (c) Fails to give a notice under section 72 of this Act.

Nothing in sections 70 to 78 of this Act shall in any way affect the operation of Part 5 of this Act.

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

Sections 82 to 84 of this Act apply in any case where a Council that is entitled to exercise any power under section 82 or section 83 of this Act is satisfied, in respect of any solicitor, that—

• (a) There is reasonable cause to believe that he has been guilty of theft or of any improper conduct in relation to the money or other property of any other person; or

• (b) There is reasonable cause to believe that any money or other property entrusted to him has been stolen by his employee or agent; or

• (c) He is, owing to physical or mental disability, unable to properly administer his trust account; or

• (d) He has died; or

• (e) He has been adjudicated a bankrupt; or

• (f) His name has been struck off the roll; or

• (g) He has been suspended from practice; or

• (h) He has been ordered by the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal not to practise as a solicitor on his own account; or

• (i) He has ceased to practise and has neglected to wind up his trust account.

(1) In any case to which this section applies, the District Council may serve on any banker of whom the solicitor is a customer a notice, signed by 2 members of the District Council, requiring the banker to pay to the District Law Society all money held by the banker in any trust account of the solicitor.

(2) On receipt of the notice, the banker shall forthwith pay to the District Law Society all money held by him in any trust account of the solicitor; and the receipt of the District Law Society shall be a complete discharge to the banker from all liability in respect of the money.

(3) On receipt of the money, the District Council shall forthwith cause it to be paid into a separate account at such bank as the District Council appoints; and that account may be operated on by such 2 or more persons as the District Council appoints in that behalf.

(4) Where any money that was held by the solicitor on behalf of any person is paid to the District Law Society under this section, the money shall be held by the District Law Society in trust for that person.

(5) Any person claiming to be adversely affected by any payment to the District Law Society under this section, and, if the money was paid from the trust account of a deceased solicitor, the executors or administrators of the deceased solicitor or any person claiming to be entitled to a grant of probate or letters of administration of his estate, may at any time apply to the Court for an order directing the District Law Society to repay the money into the bank account from which it was paid or for such order as the Court thinks fit; and, on hearing any such application, the Court may make such order as it thinks fit.

(6) Subject to subsection (7) of this section, and to any order of the Court made under any provision of this Part of this Act, the District Council may at any time in its discretion repay the money or any part of it into the bank account from which it was paid.

(7) If the case is one to which paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of section 81 of this Act applies, the money shall, subject to subsection (4) of this section and to any order of the Court made under any provision of this Part of this Act, be held by the District Council on behalf of and subject to the general or special directions of the Management Committee of the Solicitors' Fidelity Guarantee Fund.

(1) In any case to which this section applies, the Council of the New Zealand Law Society or a District Council may, if in its opinion it is expedient to do so, take possession of any records or documents belonging to the solicitor or held in his possession or under his control in the course of his practice.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the Council or District Council may serve on any postmaster a notice signed by 2 of its members requiring the postmaster to cause to be delivered to the Society or the District Law Society all postal articles addressed to the solicitor at his office address; and it shall be the duty of the postmaster to comply with the notice.

(3) The Council or District Council may apply to a Judge of the High Court or a District Court Judge for a writ or warrant to empower any member of the Council or District Council, or any other person on its behalf, to enter upon any premises, by force if necessary, and search for any records or documents of which the Council or District Council is entitled to take possession and to remove them to such place as he thinks fit.

(4) Where any person is empowered by a writ or warrant issued under subsection (3) of this section to enter upon any premises, he may be accompanied when so entering by a member of the Police.

(5) Where any documents belonging to any person other than the solicitor are received by the Council or District Council under this section, they shall be held by the Council receiving them until any application made under section 84 of this Act and relating to those documents is disposed of by the Court, or, as the case may be, until the time for making such an application has expired without an application being made.

(6) Thereafter, subject to any order made by the Court on such an application, the documents shall be delivered, on demand made by the person to whom they belong, to that person or to such other person as he may direct in writing.

(7) For the purpose of ascertaining the true position concerning any trust account of the solicitor, or any money or other property entrusted to him, the Council or District Council may cause such entries as may be necessary to be made in any such records, or cause any entries therein to be amended.

(8) The Council or District Council may at any time apply to the Court for directions concerning any such records or documents.

(9) Subject to any order of the Court made under any provision of this Part of this Act and to any lawful demand made under subsection (6) of this section, the Council or District Council may at any time in its discretion return any such records or documents to the person or persons from whom they were received.

(10) While any documents are in the possession of the Council or a District Council pursuant to this section, any lien or right to a lien which, but for this section, could be exercised by the solicitor shall enure for the benefit of the Council or District Council to the exclusion of the solicitor.

(1) On receipt of any money or any records or documents under section 82 or section 83 of this Act, the Council or District Council, as the case may require, shall forthwith serve on the solicitor concerned and, if he is a partner in a firm of solicitors, on each partner in the firm, a notice setting out the amount of money received, or, as the case may be, particulars of the records or documents received, and the date of receipt.

(2) The notice may be served personally on any solicitor, or may be sent to him by registered letter addressed to his last known place of business or residence.

(3) Within 14 days after the notice has been so served or posted, the solicitor or any partner in the firm of solicitors of which he is a member may apply to the Court for an order directing the New Zealand Law Society or the District Law Society, as the case may require,—

• (a) To repay any money referred to in the notice into the bank account from which it was received; or

• (b) To return any records or documents referred to in the notice to the person or persons from whom they were received,—

or for such other order as the Court may think fit.

(4) On hearing any such application, the Court may make such order as it thinks fit.

(1) The Council of the New Zealand Law Society or of any District Law Society may at any time appoint any officer or member of any such society, or a chartered accountant for the time being qualified to conduct the audit of solicitors' trust accounts, to examine from time to time the accounts of solicitors or firms of solicitors, and to furnish to it confidential reports as to any irregularity in the accounts of any solicitor or firm of solicitors that may be disclosed by any such examination, or as to any other matter that in the opinion of the person so appointed should be reported upon or further investigated.

(2) Every appointment made under this section shall be in writing and shall be signed on behalf of the Council of any such Law Society by the President or any 2 members of the Council.

(3) Any person for the time being holding an appointment under this section may at any time, without further authority than this section, examine the accounts of any solicitor or firm of solicitors.

(4) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this section, if the Council or District Council has reasonable cause to believe—

• (a) That any money entrusted to a solicitor has been stolen by him or by his employee or agent; or

• (b) That any trust account of a solicitor or firm of solicitors is not being kept or operated in accordance with any rules or regulations made under this Act and for the time being in force relating to trust accounts and the audit of such accounts; or

• (c) That any solicitor is, owing to physical or mental disability, unable to properly administer his trust account,—

any person for the time being holding an appointment under this section may at any time, acting under the general or special directions of the Council or District Council, examine the accounts of that solicitor or firm.

(5) On production by any person so appointed of the instrument of his appointment, he may at any time—

• (a) Require any solicitor or firm of solicitors, or any employee, agent, or banker of any solicitor or firm of solicitors, to produce to him all records or documents relating to the business or accounts of any solicitor or firm of solicitors, and to give all information in relation thereto that may be reasonably required by him; and

• (b) Inspect all records and documents relating to any money received by any solicitor or firm of solicitors, or any employee, agent, or banker of any solicitor or firm of solicitors, whether the money has been paid into a private account or a trust account at a bank or has not been paid to any such account, and make copies of them or of any entries in them.

(6) A person so appointed shall not communicate any matter that may come to his knowledge in the exercise of any of his powers under this section, except—

• (a) For the purposes of his investigation; or

• (b) In the course of any report to the Council that appointed him; or

• (c) In evidence in proceedings before a District Council or committee or a Tribunal under Part 7 of this Act, or before the Disciplinary Tribunal of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand; or

• (d) To a member of the Police acting in the performance of his duty; or

• (e) In evidence in any court.

(7) The Council receiving any such report shall consider it in committee and not otherwise; and it shall not be lawful for any member of that Council or any of its officers to publish to any person any information disclosed in the report except pursuant to subsection (6) or subsection (8) of this section or in the performance of his duty.

(8) The Council receiving any such report may in its discretion communicate the contents of it, or any part of the contents, to—

• (a) Any solicitor to whom the report relates, or any practitioner representing that solicitor, or, if that solicitor is a partner in a firm of solicitors, to any partner in the firm:

• (b) The auditor of the solicitor's trust account:

• (c) The President of the New Zealand Law Society:

• (d) A chartered accountant (within the meaning of section 19 of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand Act 1996:

• (e) Any member of the Police.

(9) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Council or District Council, in its discretion, from giving to any client of a solicitor or firm of solicitors any information disclosed in any such report so far as it relates to the client's affairs and is required by the client.

(10) Where the contents, or any part of the contents, of any report are disclosed to the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand under subsection (8) of this section, that Council shall consider the information given in committee and not otherwise; and it shall not be lawful for any member of that Council or any of its officers to publish to any person any information so disclosed except in evidence in disciplinary proceedings under the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand Act 1996.

(1) The reasonable expenses of the Council or any District Council acting in the exercise of any of the powers conferred by this part of this Act in respect of any solicitor shall be recoverable from him as a debt.

(2) Subject to this section, the Council or District Council may apply any money belonging to the solicitor or to which he may be entitled, being money that comes into the possession of the Council or District Council, in or towards satisfaction of those reasonable expenses; but nothing in this subsection shall affect any other remedy available to any such Council.

(3) No such money shall be so applied until a notice giving particulars of the expenses claimed has been served on the solicitor or his personal representatives.

(4) Any such notice may be served personally on the solicitor or any such representative, or may be forwarded to him by registered letter addressed to his last known place of business or residence.

(5) Within 14 days after any such notice has been so served or posted, the solicitor or his personal representatives may apply to the Court for a review of the expenses claimed; and on hearing any such application the Court may make such order as it thinks fit.

(6) In this section the term reasonable expenses, in relation to the exercise of any power, includes not only out-of-pocket expenses but also a reasonable sum in respect of salaries of staff and overhead expenses incurred by the Council or the District Council, as the case may be, and properly attributable to the exercise of the power.