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Welcome to the Family Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society.
The Family Law Section represents the interests of approximately 941 New Zealand family law practitioners. It has primary responsibility on behalf of the Society in all areas of family law and has a strong and active voice in relation to such issues as Family Courts management, the independence of the Family Court, Lawyer for Child rates, legal aid rates, and education.
NZLS Panel of Mediators
A new NZLS service - the NZLS Panel of Mediators - was launched this month for lawyers mediating in the family law jurisdiction, including those mediating in the Family Court’s Early Intervention Programme.
The service is currently available to members of the NZLS and its Family Law Section and has been developed to ensure that the quality of mediation undertaken by family lawyers is of the highest standard.
By joining the NZLS Panel of Mediators as a Family Specialist, you will be able to demonstrate that you have achieved a certain level of training and experience in family mediation, and that you are committed to maintaining a high standard of mediation in your practice.
A combination of practical experience, combined with professional development through teaching and learning, will help panel members to retain and further develop their specialised mediation skills.
The NZLS Panel of Mediators section on my.lawsociety.org.nz provides details on membership, accreditation and training, along with relevant resources, guidelines and precedents.
Latest NZLS submissions
Family legal aid - fixed fees framework, 19 March 2012
Date: 19 Mar 2012, PDF File, 485.0 KB
The NZLS submission says the proposed fixed fees framework for family legal aid is fiscally unsustainable and will diminish New Zealanders' access to justice.
Government Green Paper for Vulnerable Children, 8 March 2012
Date: 08 Mar 2012, PDF File, 513.7 KB
The Law Society’s submission on the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children recommends legislative amendments to improve the protection of vulnerable children.
Review of the Family Court, 5 March 2012
Date: 06 Mar 2012, PDF File, 466.7 KB
The Law Society’s submission on the Family Court review recommends the Court should remain significantly unchanged but with targeted legislative amendments will achieve significant fiscal savings.
Dinner for Judge Lindsay
The Family Law Section is hosting a dinner to belatedly welcome Judge Lindsay to Northland. The dinner will be on Friday 18 May at Nectar. An invitation (PDF, 275kb) is extended to all family lawyers; members of the Section and Family Court Judges. Please RSVP by 11 May. Legal Aid meetings
Meetings will be held around the country to discuss the proposed and actual changes the Ministry of Justice is making to the legal aid scheme and the new legal aid contracts.
Members of the Executive plan to visit some regions between 30 April and 9 May to answer any questions you may have and to share information with members about these changes. Unfortunately due to the speed with which the Ministry is making these changes, it is not possible to visit all areas. We will however be fully briefing all regional representatives so they will be also be available to answer your questions.
Wellington - 5.30pm, 30 April 2012 - NZLS, 26 Waring Taylor Street - please rsvp by 26 April 2012, $10 at the door
Palmerston North - 8.30am, 1 May 2012 - Winter Woods, Level 1, 100 The Square
Whanganui - 12 noon, 1 May 2012 - Armstrong Barton, 8 Bell Street - please bring your own lunch
New Plymouth - 5.00pm, 1 May 2012 - Till Henderson, 11 Robe Street
Manukau - 1.00pm, 2 May 2012 - Quandrant Chambers, Level 2, 20 Putney Way
North Shore - 1.00pm, 4 May 2012 - North Shore Court meeting room, Cnr of Don McKinnon Drive and Corinthian Drive
Gisborne - 8.30am, 7 May 2012 - Rishworth Wall & Mathieson, 50 Wainui Road
Napier - 5.30pm, 7 May 2012 -
Rotorua - 1.00pm, 7 May 2012 - Davys Burton, 1109 Fenton Street - please bring your own lunch
Tauranga - 5.30pm, 7 May 2012 - Holland Beckett, 525 Cameron Road - please rsvp by 4 May 2012
Hamilton - 5.30pm, 8 May 2012 - Niemand, Peebles, Hoult, 190 Collingwood Street, please see invite for more details
Nelson - 5.30pm, 8 May 2012 - Duncan Cotterill, 197 Bridge Street
Christchurch - 5.00pm, 10 May 2012 - Elmwood Tennis Club, 83 Heaton Street, Merivale
Dunedin - 5.30pm, 10 May 2012 - Law Society's Otago Branch, common room on the 1st floor, Mooney’s Building, 28 Stuart Street
Auckland central - 1.00pm, 11 May 2012 - Glaister Ennor, Norfolk House, 18 High Street
Whangarei - 11.00am, 17 May 2012 - Cook Westenra, Level 3, 5 Hunt Street
