LawNews

05/08/2026

In a just-released research paper Law in Distress, a team of researchers from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) reveal why one in four lawyers they interviewed and surveyed is intending to quit the profession in the next four years.

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An AUT report reveals why one in four lawyers plan to leave the profession, citing burnout, poor wellbeing and workplace pressures.

04/08/2026

In the first criminal case of its kind, a former lawyer with no practising certificate and a history of disciplinary problems – including a previous suspension – has been fined for writing a will for a dying man who, according to his family, did not have testamentary capacity.

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A former solicitor has been fined $7,000 for providing legal services without a practising certificate in the first criminal prosecution of its kind by the New Zealand Law Society.

04/08/2026

Rather than blocking lawsuits against greenhouse gas emitters, the government could have chosen a less drastic option, writes barrister Warren Pyke, a member of The Law Association's Council and its Public & Administrative Law Committee. As it stands, the proposed legislation is a "blunt instrument", Pyke says, and a "radical deprivation of citizens' common law rights".

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04/08/2026

A new feature in Microsoft Teams that employees can use to determine whether their colleagues are physically present in the office has been slammed by privacy experts who say there's a high risk that bosses will also use the tool for surveillance purposes.

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Privacy experts warn Microsoft's new Teams check-in feature could fuel workplace surveillance, raising concerns about employee privacy, trust and monitoring.

31/07/2026

Law firm Bell Gully is warning about the risk of "algorithmic collusion" and potential cartel behaviour if businesses fail to actively monitor their use of AI. This could lead to breaches of competition law for which the business, not the algorithm, would be liable.

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Businesses are warned AI tools that communicate or collude with competitors could expose them to serious competition law breaches.

31/07/2026

Characterising Opportunity as a left-wing party isn't necessarily correct, writes political columnist and analyst Chris Trotter, and it's not the real reason Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has dismissed Opportunity as a potential coalition partner.

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Why has National ruled out working with The Opportunities Party? This analysis examines the political strategy and implications for Election 2026.

29/07/2026

A lawyer whose inexperience with civil litigation disclosure caused him to unintentionally mislead the High Court has been censured for misconduct and ordered to pay costs but has avoided a punitive fine.

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A legal watchdog says a shamed lawyer’s case highlights the importance of mental health support and early intervention in the profession.

29/07/2026

One of his mentors – the late Moana Jackson – posed a question to Heemi Taumaunu when the District Court Chief Judge was still at law school. Would he become a lawyer who is Maori or a Maori who happens to be a lawyer? At a breakfast this week hosted by The Law Association, the chief judge said he had finally figured out the answer.

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Chief District Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu discusses court caseloads, professionalism, fairness and his experience as a Māori lawyer.

28/07/2026

Caveats are relatively easy to lodge but, if done wrongly or based on legally dodgy grounds, can have disastrous consequences for both the caveator and its lawyers.

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Why should lawyers and clients treat caveats with caution? Explore the legal risks, common pitfalls and practical property law guidance.

28/07/2026

While lawyers may be at the heart of legal work, they are not the only professional shaping the future of the firm. Australasian Law Firm Leader of the Year Devika Kumar is championing the people building the business behind the practice.

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Meet Devika Kumar as she shares her legal career journey, inspirations and the person behind the practice in this LawNews profile.