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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