These rules amend the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Ongoing Legal Education—Continuing Professional Development) Rules 2013 (the principal rules). They come into force on 1 July 2021.

The rules are published in the Legislative Instruments series in accordance with section 106 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006. The rules have been published on the New Zealand Law Society website.

The amendments to the principal rules arise from the recommendations of a report prepared by a 5-person independent working group established by the Law Society and chaired by Dame Silvia Cartwright. The working group was established in March 2018 and reported in December 2018. It reviewed the regulatory processes for lawyers if unacceptable workplace behaviour occurs.

A copy of the working group’s report is available at: https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/professional-practice/practising-well/bullying-and-harassment/resources-and-reports/

The Law Society undertook public consultation on the proposed amendments to the principal rules in June and July 2020.

The effect of the amendments is that the Law Society is able to include a mandatory component in the hours of continuing professional development activities that a lawyer is required to undertake.