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may promote the resolution of complaints or issues, by negotiation, conciliation, or mediation
provides advice to the New Zealand Law Society, the New Zealand Society of Conveyancers and the Minister of Justice on any relevant issues identified while carrying out a review.
What the Legal Complaints Review Officer can help with
The Review Officer can:
review all or part of a standards committee decision, investigation, or general treatment of complaints
investigate (or decline to investigate further) all or part of a standards committee decision
postpone a review so parties can consider resolving the matter
exercise, for the purpose of any inquiry or investigation, all the powers of a standards committee.
What Orders the Legal Complaints Review Officer can make
In its final decision, the Review Officer can:
confirm, modify or reverse the standards committee decision
recommend the standards committee reconsider all or part of a matter
lay a charge before the Lawyers & Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal
order for suppression of names or identifying details
direct the standards committee to lay a charge (that may also include an application to suspend) before the Lawyers & Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal.
The Review Officer may make an order:
censuring a practitioner
ordering an apology
ordering compensation (up to $25,000)
ordering a reduction, cancellation or refund of fees
ordering a practitioner to rectify an error or to pay to have an error rectified
imposing a fine (of up to $15,000)
ordering that a practitioner's practice be made available for inspection
ordering further education or training to be undertaken by a practitioner.