Lawyers’ Public Relations

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30109, 18 April 1963, Page 8

Lawyers’ Public Relations

(New Zealand Press Association?

AUCKLAND. April 17. Efforts made by the legal profession in England since 1939 to establish mutual understanding between it and the public were explained by Sir Thomas Lund, secretary of the Law Society. London, in an address to the New Zealand law conference in Auckland today. The deliberate, planned and sustained campaign. Sir Thomas Lund said, was by no means a publicity stunt. Its main aims were to create public confidence in the law and in the integrity and ability of lawyers and to ensure that lawyers attained the highest ethical standards.

“It ia tremendously important to do everything possible to ensure that the legal profession is not suspect in the public mind,” he said. “People must not fear that they will be worse off after consulting a lawyer than they were before.” In England, he said, the profession had set about removing any grounds of criticism. Efforts had been made to eliminate delays in transacting a client’s business and legal costs were explained to prove they were fair. The press, radio and television were used to keep the public up to date with changes in the law and a bock telling how the legal

profession could help the public had sold 100,000 copies. Refresher lectures were organised for lawyers, addresses were given in schools and careers exhibitions were supported. Expressing admiration for the English system. Mr A. E. Hurley, of Wellington, said the New Zealand Law Society would have to make public relations its function if this aspect was to be adequately served in this country. Because of its geography and small population, New Zealand could do no more than use the elaborate and expensive English system as a guide.