Lawyer failed to comply with a lawyers’ standards committee order
An Auckland Lawyer has been fined and put under supervision for misconduct.
The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has fined Michael Rawiri Taia $1,500 and ordered him to pay the New Zealand Law Society costs of $13,426.
He has also been ordered to undergo a 12-month term of supervision that commenced on 10 September, the Law Society said. As part of the supervision order, Taia will have to meet in person with a designated supervising lawyer.
The supervising lawyer has been given a wide-ranging brief to discuss all files and aspects of Taia’s practice, the Law Society said. The supervising lawyer will file a written report of each meeting with the Law Society.
Taia had failed to comply with a lawyers’ standards committee order to refund client money. He also failed to comply with clients’ requests to produce documents and records he held on their behalf.
The public expects better conduct from lawyers than that shown by Taia, the tribunal said.
