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Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006

Complaints and discipline - Complaints

144: Power to appoint investigators

You could also call this:

"People can be chosen to investigate complaints about lawyers or conveyancers."

Illustration for Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006

You can have investigators to look into complaints. The New Zealand Law Society or the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers can appoint them. They can choose one or more people to be investigators. You need to know that investigators are appointed to look into specific complaints. Their job is to find out what happened. They can be appointed to look into many complaints or just one. When you are appointed as an investigator, you get certain terms and conditions. This includes how much you get paid. The body that appoints you decides these terms. To be an investigator, you must meet certain criteria. The New Zealand Law Society or the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers sets these criteria. They make practice rules that say what you need to do to be an investigator. If you are an investigator, your appointment can be cancelled. This can happen at any time. The New Zealand Law Society or the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers can cancel your appointment if you do not follow their practice rules.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM366182.

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Crime and justice > Courts and legal helpMoney and consumer rights > Consumer protection
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143: Negotiation, conciliation, and mediation, or

"Talking it out: resolving complaints about lawyers or conveyancers"

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145: Instrument of appointment, or

"A document that proves you are allowed to be an investigator under the law."

Part 7Complaints and discipline
Complaints

144Power to appoint investigators

  1. The New Zealand Law Society or the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers or a Standards Committee (acting within the terms of any authority given by either of those societies) may, from time to time, appoint 1 or more persons to act as investigators in relation to—

  2. complaints and matters being inquired into by a Standards Committee; or
    1. any particular complaint or matter being inquired into by a Standards Committee.

      1. Every appointment under subsection (1) is to be made on such terms and conditions, including terms and conditions as to salary, fees, or expenses as the body making the appointment considers appropriate.

      2. Every person appointed under subsection (1) must meet the criteria prescribed, in respect of appointments under that subsection, by practice rules made by the New Zealand Law Society or the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers, as the case may require.

      3. Any appointment made under subsection (1) may, at any time, be revoked in accordance with practice rules made by the New Zealand Law Society or the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers, as the case may require.