Auckland litigant in person service extended to Employment Court
The Auckland Community Law Centre recently established service whereby self-represented parties in bankruptcy proceedings can obtain pro bono legal advice. The service has recently been extended to the Employment Court. Read about it here: https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news-and-communications/latest-news/news/auckland-litigant-in-person-pro-bono-extended-to-employment-court
Criminal justice summit
Justice Minister Andrew Little will host a criminal justice summit in August to address issues with New Zealand’s current criminal justice system: https://www.nzlawyermagazine.co.nz/news/criminal-justice-advisory-group-and-summit-announced-252369.aspx
Some ideas for change
The recent attention to bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession has resulted in a number of think-pieces and proposals for how the legal profession can change for the better. Here are a few:
“A law student perspective: how the future should look” by Nick Butcher: https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/practice-resources/the-business-of-law/workplace-environment/a-law-student-perspective-how-the-future-should-look?utm_source=NZLS+Weekly&utm_campaign=ef7322a723-2017-04-06_LawPoints-366&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_899863399d-ef7322a723-39858325
“Changing the legal profession – a personal view” by Matt Farrington – some ideas from a self-confessed “white, male, middle class, approaching 40, heterosexual lawyer”: https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/practice-resources/the-business-of-law/future-of-law/changing-the-legal-profession-a-personal-view
“Dame Margaret Bazley’s report on Russell McVeagh a blueprint for change” by Steph Dyhrberg: https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/361152/dame-margaret-bazley-s-report-on-russell-mcveagh-a-blueprint-for-change
“Others could take a leaf out of Bazley’s book” by Dr Geoff Plimmer: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@future-learning/2018/07/11/149541/others-could-take-a-leaf-out-of-bazleys-book
PayPal takes breach of contract very seriously
The husband of a recently deceased woman in the UK received a letter from PayPal concerning £3,200 she owed at the time of her death. The letter was addressed to the deceased and stated:
You are in breach of condition 15.4(c) of your agreement with PayPal Credit as we have received notice that you are deceased. In accordance with condition 15.4(c), we are entitled to close your account, termiate your agreement and demand repayment of the full amount outstanding…This breach is not capable of remedy.
Clearly, PayPal takes breach of contract very seriously (PayPal has since apologised to the woman’s husband and is investigating how the letter came to be sent: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-44783779 ).
By Anjori Mitra
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