Lawyer suspended for negligence and incompetence

A Manukau lawyer has been suspended by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal for serious offences.

Jinyue “Paul” Young has been suspended as a barrister and solicitor for 15 months, following the tribunal finding him guilty of four charges that include misconduct, negligence, and unsatisfactory conduct.

Charges laid against Young included falsely claiming in an affidavit of documents that he discovered documents he was required to discover. He was also charged with threatening to use the complaints process for an improper purpose.

Young was also accused of incompetence and negligence that bring the legal profession into disrepute. He was also charged with misconduct for making serious allegations against the plaintiff and her counsel without evidence.

The offences related to a dispute between Young’s wife and the complainant. Young was repeatedly put on notice by the High Court and the Court of Appeal that his application was “doomed” because of irrelevant or unsustainable grounds, the Lawyers’ Standards Committee said. The courts also put him on notice that his legal pleadings were wholly inadequate and improper, leading to “grave doubts” on his professional competence, the Law Society said.

“Mr Young was clearly warned about his conduct and failed to take any notice of those warnings. This should serve as a reminder to all lawyers to reflect on their practice and to seek help when struggling,” said Kathryn Beck, Law Society president.

Young was also ordered to pay $45,783.80 in costs. He was also ordered to reimburse the Law Society costs of the tribunal amounting to $11,760.

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