Legal Education

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31111, 14 July 1966, Page 14

Legal Education

Sir, —If a law clerk, with years of practical experience behind him. wished to practise on his own account as a solicitor (not a barrister) to undertake the multitude of minor legal tasks that make up the bulk of most practices —searching, conveyancing, preparing wills and leases, etc., what minimum qualifications have in the past been required of him before he was permitted to practise?— Yours, etc., CITIZEN. July 5, 1966. [Mr G. J. Seeman, secretary of the New Zealand Law Society, replies: “I think it should be made clear that the legal tasks referred to in yqur correspondent’s letter can hardly be described as ‘minor,’ including, as is stated, the preparation of wills and leases and conveyancing. These tasks can be undertaken only by a qualified solicitor whose qualifications are prescribed by the Law Practitioners Act. Although law clerks are employed by solicitors to assist with such tasks, there can be no question of any such clerk commencing to ‘practise’ in that capacity. To do so would constitute an offence under the Law Practitioners Act.”]