By Maggie Tait of NZPA
A damning review of legal aid says a sea change is needed to fix a system undermined by incompetent and unscrupulous lawyers looking after their own interests.
The Legal Aid Review report released this morning recommended the Legal Services Agency, which administers the aid, lose its independent status and be folded into the Justice Ministry.
It said administrative costs were out of control and raised serious concerns about how the agency operated as well as with the impact bad lawyers had.
Dame Margaret Bazley headed the review and pulled no punches in the report.
"There is a small but significant group of lawyers, and some defendants, who are abusing the system to the detriment of clients, the legal aid system, the courts and the taxpayer," she said.
"While there are very good lawyers in the legal aid system, there is also a small but significant proportion of very bad lawyers who are bringing themselves and their profession into disrepute."
The situation could not be allowed to continue.
"The damage that incompetent and unscrupulous lawyers can inflict on their unsuspecting clients - and the potential to destabilise the court system, with resulting wasted expenditure of public money - is simply too great."
Other problems identified in report included an operation focus from the agency, poor relationships between it and the New Zealand Law Society, a reluctance by the agency to exercise its powers, particularly in relation to lawyers and issues with the governing legislation.
NZPA