President: Karen Price | Vice-President: Hon. Justice Mary Peters
In August, AWLA hosted an evening with Lynley Hood, the author of ‘A City Possessed: the Christchurch Civic Créche Case’. Her award-winning book sparked a petition seeking a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Peter Ellis case.
AWLA wrote to the Solicitor-General to enquire about steps taken by the Crown Law Office to influence government policy concerning the promotion of women and minorities within the legal profession. AWLA raised concerns over the selection process for Crown Solicitor warrants.
The October newsletter reflected on the Judicial Matters Bill which would allow for judges to sit on a part-time basis in “appropriate circumstances” for an authorised period. The majority of respondents to a 2002 AWLA survey, stated they would be more likely to put themselves forward for a judicial appointment if a part-time appointment was available.
AWLA raised concerns with the proposed provision requiring judges to be available to work full-time as a general rule. AWLA suggested this would likely remain a constraint on judicial applicants. The Judicial Matters Bill was also to amend the title of Master to become Associate Judge, this reflection of gender-neutral terminology was welcomed by AWLA.
AWLA held a business development evening in October aimed at intermediate-to-senior lawyers.
The November newsletter contained a profile on Hon. Hannah Sargisson about her experiences during her career practising law and reflections on her role as a Master. “Sargisson still expresses concern at the small number of women appearing in the Master’s court and then even smaller number of women appearing in defended hearings. And of course, there is the concerning small number of women making it to partnership. It is her view that discrimination issues have not gone away, they have just become less overt.”
In November, a seminar was run focusing on achieving work/life balance.
The speaker at the annual dinner was Ann Sherry, the CEO of Westpac Bank.
AWLA made submissions on the Supreme Court Bill, these were referred to in the Justice and Electoral Committee report.