| Communications and Development |  |
Published by Communications and Development
Canterbury University law professor Duncan Webb has been appointed the country’s first Legal Complaints Review Officer.
Professor Webb’s appointment under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 was announced by Associate Justice Minister Rick Barker.
"The Lawyers and Conveyancers Act creates a comprehensive and enhanced new complaints and disciplinary process for lawyers and conveyancing practitioners which comes into force on 1 August 2008," Mr Barker said.
"Under the Act, the New Zealand Law Society and the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers are responsible for establishing Lawyers Standards Committees and Conveyancers Standards Committees respectively to operate as an accessible service for the investigation and resolution of complaints about practitioners, incorporated firms, and their employees."
As the independent Legal Complaints Review Officer, Professor Webb will be able to review the decisions of these committees.
Professor Webb has been at the UC School of Law since 2000. His primary areas of teaching have been in professional ethics and regulation.
“Professor Webb brings a high level of knowledge and skill to this new position and his management experience at the University will greatly assist him in the day-to-day decision making of the office," Mr Barker said.
Professor Webb said he was “delighted to be appointed as the first Legal Complaints Review Officer”.
“This is an entirely new position and is an important part of the wider regulatory overhaul of the legal profession in New Zealand,” he said.
“I certainly hope that the knowledge and skills I have accumulated at Canterbury will be put to good use in this new and challenging role. Of course, I hope to retain strong and ongoing links with Canterbury and intend to continue to contribute to scholarship in law and professional ethics.”
For further information please contact:
Professor Duncan Webb
Telephone: +64 3 364 2987 ext 8728
duncan.webb@canterbury.ac.nz