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Legal aid changes take effect

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Fri, 01 Jul 2011 8:17a.m.

So-called dodgy lawyers will be brought into line (file)

So-called dodgy lawyers will be brought into line (file)

Today marks the start of the biggest shake-up in the legal aid system in a decade.

It will now be harder for some to access legal aid and so-called dodgy lawyers will be brought into line.

The changes were sparked by a 2010 report into the system by Dame Margarette Bazley, which identified up to 200 lawyers allegedly ripping off the taxpayer-funded system.

But barrister Russell Fairbrother says it focussed too much on one particular area of the country.

“I think if she’d done a survey throughout the country, in provinces and other cities outside of Auckland, she’d be pleasantly surprised,” he says.

The Government is also expanding the Ministry of Justice’s Public Defence Service, which employs salaried lawyers.

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Comments

12 Jul 2011 05:16a.m.

Grant wrote:

I guess Alien is from an Alien planet. All lawyers are corrupt and all doctors are corrupt to some degree. Thats why the government creates structures to protect them like the lawyers and conveyancers act and the health practitioners competence assurance act. They are not written to help the public they are written to delay and deny justice to victims of lawyers and doctors. That's also why codes of conduct, patient rights, and bill's of rights are worthless. They are guides to what the corrupt can do to the public and get away with. The lawyers must laugh all the way to the bank when they are paid to write laws dealing with rights of the public.

01 Jul 2011 06:47p.m.

Kim wrote:

How can you have a fair hearing when both side's lawyers work for the same side...not yours? This designed to made it almost impossible for an innocent man to plead not guilty.. ether way if you want a decent defence you will go broke. Unless of course you are a drug dealer or real crim then its just operating costs.

01 Jul 2011 03:20p.m.

Alien wrote:

no Kim, public defense lawyers are not bad, neither are ACC doctors, just some people like yourself are always negative and moan about anything that the current government do because that is the kind of sad pitiful life you have.

01 Jul 2011 09:03a.m.

Kim wrote:

So a bunch of lawyers rip off the system for thier own gain so they basicly punish thier clients. Public defence system lawyers are as bad as ACC employed doctors... This is a slippery slope. Oh and lets be clear about one thing.. Its not some people..its most.