The number of practising certificate holders ticked up by 2.9%
The number of practising lawyers has increased, according to the New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa’s annual report to the justice minister for 2024/2025.
Law Society chief executive Katie Rusbatch noted that the number of practising certificate holders rose by 2.9% to 17,504. Practising certificates were also made available in te reo Māori for the first time.
Seven lawyers were struck off by the Disciplinary Tribunal, which handled 31 out of 38 matters.
Rusbatch also highlighted the publication of the Strengthening the Rule of Law in Aotearoa New Zealand report. She noted that workload soared by 59% for the law reform team.
“Not only has the volume increased but so has the pace of policy and legislation”, she said.
The Law Society sent in 55 submissions on bills and 91 other submissions – an increase of 59% compared to last year. The organisation also made a submission on the Triennial Legal Aid review; a cost benefit analysis indicated that for each dollar injected into legal aid, the return was $2.06.
“The Law Society has an important role to play in providing impartial advice on how new policy will impact on the law and on how draft legislation will work in practice. We will continue to advocate for the rule of law and for improvements to legal aid both of which are vital for maintaining access to justice”, Rusbatch said.
The report indicated that Law Society membership stayed strong following the introduction of its subscription model. The organisation also released consumer guidance material in six languages, including guidance on working with lawyers.
Moreover, the Law Society held a two-seminar series on the use of AI in the legal profession and on wellbeing.
The Law Society advanced Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 updates to enhance the Lawyers Complaints Service’s efficiency and effectiveness. The organisation closed 1,386 complaints over 2024/2025 – the Early Resolution Service handled 763 of these. A total of 1,365 complaints were opened.
Continuing legal education was re-incorporated into the Law Society. A total of 146 events were held and 486 CPD hours logged (over 53,000 hours consumed). Approximately 600 presenters and experts participated in the events.
Regulatory total revenue came to $33.3m, while the net loss of representative was $982,000 – down from $3.4m in 2023/2024.
“The Law Society is modernising its regulatory functions through a clear 2022-2025 strategy, upgraded systems, and proposed reforms that strengthen efficiency, accountability and consumer protection”, Rusbatch said. “These improvements are creating a more proactive, data-informed and consumer-focused regulatory environment, one that enhances service delivery, supports the profession, and builds public trust in the quality and integrity of legal services”.
The annual report has been tabled in parliament.
