Guidelines
Litigation
Guidelines for limited licence applications - September 2005
In-court media coverage - February 2004
Please note: From the end of 2004, these guidelines also apply to the Employment Court.
Judgment creditors process changed (s57 District Courts Act 1947) - February 2004
Mediation privilege in the Environment Court - December 2003 (PDF)
LARP decisions
Restorative Justice provisions in the Sentencing Act 2002, Parole Act 2002 and Victims' Rights Act 2002 - January 2003.
Prepared by the Ministry of Justice, the material identifies relevant provisions and summarises their effect on the use of restorative justice processes in the courts, identifies current developments in restorative justice, and suggests principles of best practice. It will provide assistance to those working with the new provisions and with restorative justice processes generally.
Property Law
E-dealing Guidelines - August 2007
Guidelines for Dealing with Landbrokers - January 2007
edealing Workflow Guidance and Checklists - October 2006
Property Transactions Practice Guidelines - November 2004
Proof of identity for property transactions - February 2003
Land Transfer Act Gazette Notice - Forms of Electronic Instruments, Retention of Evidence, Statutory Requirements and Consent Notice - 14 November 2002
Retention of documents, post registration under Landonline - September 2002
General Practice
Swearing affidavits and taking Statutory Declarations - August 2007
Privacy Act 1993 - Guidelines for Law Practitioners 2nd edition - November 2004
Student fee protection trusts - August 2004
Authenticating prostitution operators - February 2004
Lawyers lien cannot prevent client accessing personal information on their files - April 2003
Guidelines for the retention of records on termination of retainer - April 2003 (PDF)
Opinion - Ownership and retention of records on termination of retainer - April 2003 (PDF)
Guidance Notes for Donees of Sole Practitioners' Power of Attorney - Updated January 2007 (PDF)
NZLS policy guidelines on disclosure of information by law societies - May 1998
Official Information Act guidelines - visit the Office of the Ombudsmen.
Family Law
Protocol - Liaison between Counsel for Child and schools - a guide for lawyers representing children (PDF document - see below for access to Adobe Acrobat) - June 2002
Legal Aid
Opinion - Legal Services Agency - Information held by Listed Providers - Privilege - April 2004
Privacy
Privacy Act 1993 - Guidelines for Law Practitioners 2nd edition
The Privacy Act v solicitors' lien - February 2007
Insolvency
Guidelines for application of voidable transaction provisions of the Companies Act 1993
These guidelines were first published in LawTalk 516, 6 April 1999. While they are still relevant, it should be noted that the Insolvency Law Reform Bill, currently before Parliament's Commerce Committee, makes changes to the voidable transactions regime. That bill is due to be reported by 20 August 2006 and when it is passed, these guidelines will need to be amended.
Immigration
Immigration Advisers Authority
Tax/duty
IRD - Exemption from gift duty for dispositions of property made by or under an order of the Court:s75A(5) Estate and Gift Duties Act 1968
Practice Notes
Civil
Pre-Hearing Matters for Appeals under the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2001 - 1 December 2007
Pre-Hearing Matters for Appeals under the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2001 - 1 December 2004
Civil Case Management in the District Courts - February 2001
Criminal
Pre-Trial Applications in Criminal Jury Cases - 1 December 2007
Criminal Jury Trials - District Court Practice Note - 1 October 2007
Guidelines for limited licence applications - September 2005
Note: These are guidelines for the District Court
High Court Practice Note on Criminal Appeals - February 2004
Sentencing Practice Note - May 2003
Criminal practice notes applicable to the High Court - September 2002
Bail Practice Note (Bail Act 2000) - March 2002
Criminal Appeals - January 2002
Family
Practice Notes from the Family Court
Employment
Extent to which previous practice directions continue to apply - 29 April 2005
Cross appeals and cross challenges in the Employment Court - July 2003
Environment
Consolidated practice note for the Environment Court - 31 July 2006
Youth
Appointment and Review Procedures for Youth Advocates - December 2006
Youth Court Checklist - October 2002
Fingerprinting of Child and Youth Offenders - February 2001
General
Procedures for appointment of Queen's Counsel - August 1991
New Zealand Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal Practice Note (s108(6) Law Practitioners Act 1982) - June 2004
Court notices
Memorandum from the Court of Appeal on the "15 minute" experiment
Fee waiver forms are available on the Ministry of Justice website via this link.
Environment Court hearing schedule
Daily recovery rates (Schedule 2 High Court Rules) - February 2004
High Court Amendment Rules 2003 (in force 24 November) Includes new interlocutory regime, revises and codifies case management, templates for trial directions and modifies procedures for appeals to High Court.
Amended High Court and District Court rules in force (includes opening hours, authority to file documents, disbursements, discontinuance and representation of minors) - February 2003
See also the Rules Committee website
Downloading PDF documents
To view pdf files requires access to an Adobe Acrobat reader, this can be downloaded free from the Adobe website.
last updated 25 January 2008