A very important role of the office of the Wellington District Law Society is the provision of lists of practitioners who can assist enquirers. Another is providing a listening ear and guidance to those who are not sure where they should be turning.
Attending to these matters in a personal and direct way is an important public relations exercise on behalf of the profession and does much to bring understanding between practitioners and their clients.
Some practitioners find it valuable for them to telephone and 'vent some air' or discuss some pragmatic solutions to a challenge! Council members and a 'Friends' panel are freely available for mentoring and guidance.
Part of the practising fee ($505.00) is the levy of the New Zealand Law Society, which has an important role in representing the profession at the national level, regulating members to ensure maintenance of high standards, providing ongoing education and contributing to the development of law.
A further $35 is contributed to Community Law Centres in the Wellington District.
Richard Fowler was re-elected President in April 2008 for a one year term. He receives an honorarium of 20 percent of a High Court Judge's salary, which recognises the long hours the President is expected to put into the position. An additional 5 percent of a High Court Judge's salary is paid during the transition to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006.
The President is involved in representing and speaking on behalf of the Society on the NZLS Board and at a number of functions, writing articles and planning for the Society's role in a 'deregulated' environment. The President is in almost daily contact with Executive Director David Clarke and the officers, dealing with the numerous matters that arise in representing more than 2400 members.
The President leads a council of 15 members including Vice-President, Treasurer, 10 elected members, a Young Lawyers' representative, a lawyer in Government and Commerce representative and a representative from the Wairarapa.
The office holders meet once a week and the Council every month.
The Council considers a range of matters including new admissions, applications to practise on own account, applications for practicing certificates, notices pursuant to the Solicitor Trust Accounting Regulations, reports on practices or nominee companies currently under the Society's administration, committee reports and, particularly in the last couple of years, proposals for restructuring of law societies.
The Council also plans and monitors how the budget is spent each year. However, the ability of the Society to provide a full range of services to its members would not be possible without the voluntary work of many of its members.
The committees are hard at work ensuring members can have input into the Council's operations as well as providing the opportunity to network, debate and, of course, socialise.
Click here to view the "LIST OF COMMITTEES".
Wellington District Law Society 2008 Council
| President - Richard Fowler |
Vice President - Lance Pratley
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| Treasurer - Wayne Chapman |
Don Breaden |
| Nerissa Barber |
Robert Buchanan |
| Ross Crotty |
Nigel Hughes |
| Penny Le Page |
John Delany
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| Nikki Pender |
Hayden Wilson |
| Darryl Strachan |
Wairarapa Representative - Mark Hinton
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Laywer in Commerce and Government Representative - Helen Mackay
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Young Lawyers' Representative - Claire Godber
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