THE LEGAL PROFESSION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 12 September 1935, Page 7

THE LEGAL PROFESSION

AAIENDING LEGISLATION. DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL, Important- changes in the discipline and control of legal practitioners are provided for in tlie Law Practitioners Amendment Bill, notice of which was given by the Prime Alinister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, in the House of Repre. sentatives on Tuesday. The most important of the amendments, which are being introduced at the request of the New Zealand Law Society, provides for the setting up of a disciplinary committee to deal with all breaches of discipline by legal practitioners and to have power to impose a suspension or to strike a- member off the rolls. Alembers will have the right of appeal to the Supreme Court. The .setting up of this committee, it is claimed, will have the effect of simplifying the complicated. legal process wli.icli must at present be gone through when a, breach of discipline occurs, and will bring New Zealand into! line with England, where such a committee exists at the present time. Criminal offences, of course, will continue to' be dealt with by the courts.

Another provision seeks to make it necessary for a solicitor, . before commencing practice on his own account, to have three years’ experience with another firm. At present it- is possible for a solicitor to- pass his examinations in one year and commence practice the next, without any experience whatever, and it is with the object of preventing this that the section has been drawn up. The rules governing the admission lot barristers and solicitors are to remain as at present. Among other minor amendments contemplated are one giving power to establish a benevolent fund for the relief of needy members and certain machinery amendments concerning the guarantee fund.