The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (the Act) to allow a lawyer who is an employee (for example, of a law practice or an in-house lawyer) to do free legal work other than for the lawyer’s employer, on conditions set by the New Zealand Law Society.
Currently, under the Act, an employed lawyer may in some circumstances be guilty of misconduct if he or she does legal work outside of the lawyer’s employment. In conjunction with amendments to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 (the Rules), this Bill will allow the employed lawyer, with the permission of his or her employer, to do free legal work (“pro bono” work) outside of his or her employment. The aim of this Bill and the associated amendments to the Rules is to improve access to justice without compromising the standards of professional conduct and client care required under the Rules.