At The Bar
Issue No 3 ~ June 2008
Bar Association Celebrates 20th Anniversary The New Zealand Bar Association celebrates its 20th anniversary on 4 July 2008, and will mark the occasion with a cocktail function at the Stamford Plaza in Auckland on 3 July. Other events organised by the Association’s Vice Presidents will be held around the country to celebrate the anniversary. President Jim Farmer QC, who has presided over the Association for a total of eight out of its 20 years of existence, said that the founding members had been determined that the Association would not just be a dining club or a trade union for its members. The Association had its genesis in a resolution passed at a meeting of barristers on 2 November 1987, which proposed the establishment of a Bar Association. A steering committee consisting of Ted Thomas QC (Convenor), Raynor Asher, Jim Farmer QC, Noel Ingram and Peter Williams QC was formed to progress the establishment of the organisation. A meeting held on 10 December 1987 discussed five key issues. These were whether or not an Association should be established, and, if so, whether membership should be restricted to barristers sole. Other key issues considered were whether membership of the Association should be compulsory, whether Association members should remain members of the Law Society, and whether the Association should have statutory recognition. Pending the holding of elections, the Association was run by the steering committee. A certificate of incorporation was granted on 4 July 1988.
that barristers were regarded as specialist advocates able to bring objectivity to their cases, and it was important to preserve and foster those qualities.
Taking steps to develop closer international ties: Photographed at the recent NSW Bench and Bar dinner are from left, Colin Carruthers QC (NZBA VicePresident), Stephen Estcourt QC (ABA past President) and Tom Bathurst QC (ABA President). The dinner was held at the Hilton Sydney on 9 May 2008 with The Hon Justice Susan Kiefel as the Guest of Honour. Photograph supplied courtesy of Murray Harris Photography.
He stressed that the Association should not be seen as a break-away group from the Law Society. Its members would remain members of the Law Society, but their interests were entitled to separate attention. Mr Thomas said that the Association’s discussions with the Law Society had been amicable and it was expected that the relationship would remain harmonious and cooperative. At the time the Bar Association was created, there were around 200 barristers practising in New Zealand. That was a larger figure than for any of the separate bars in Queensland, Western Australian, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania. All of those, except for Tasmania, had their own Bar Associations.
The objectives of the Bar Association were to promote and The first election was held on 8 June 1989, with 15 protect, within the wider context of the justice system, the candidates standing for 10 vacancies. Voting was open interests of independent barristers. The then-Mr Thomas in to all barristers at the independent bar. Mr Thomas was a media release the following year said that the Association elected President, and Raynor Asher (Auckland), Colin aimed to foster a strong separate and independent bar, and Carruthers (Wellington), Sonja Clapham (Auckland), to promote the interests of barristers Jim Farmer QC (Auckland), John and the public in relation to legal McLinden (Wellington), Andrew Molloy representation and the operation First International (Auckland), Elizabeth Quinn (Hamilton), of the judicial system. He identified Terence Sissons (Christchurch), Conference high standards of ethical conduct Roy Somerville (Dunedin) and Peter among barristers, good quality legal Williams (Auckland) were elected as 15-16 August 2008 representation and advocacy, and an council members. The first council independent judiciary as other key see page 17 for details meeting was held in Auckland on 28 concerns. Mr Thomas went on to say July 1989, and by November that year continued over...
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