Did time slow down for the legal profession this year? (No, really)
Summary The year legal AI became real Voices shaping the profession A year worth remembering Contributors 2025 There's a curious phenomenon about how we experience time. When our days are filled with routine, weeks seem to vanish. But pack those same weeks with significant events, steep learning curves, and genuine transformation, and suddenly each month feels substantial. Time slows down, each moment...
New Protégé General AI feature gives lawyers safe, unified access to leading general AI tools
Summary The problem with platform hopping How the models differ Security without compromise Beyond legal research The speed of adoption Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. Beneath the surface of the New Zealand legal profession’s growing AI fluency sits a blind spot: sensitive data is drifting across too many platforms. Many lawyers are using legal generative AI tools such...
Protégé General AI: Bringing Legal and General AI Together for New Zealand Lawyers in Lexis+ AI
Summary Introducing Protégé General AI General AI Models Available in Protégé for New Zealand Legal Workflows Practical Use Cases for Lawyers But as AI becomes more common in legal practice, many professionals are discovering an unexpected challenge; their tools don’t always work together. A typical day for an New Zealand lawyer might involve switching between multiple systems: a legal-specific AI for...
The future of law: rooted in strong foundations
Summary The efficiency revolution Levelling the playing field Managing the transition carefully Specialised practice applications The evolution of legal service delivery Maintaining quality amid quantity Innovation and experimentation, systemic challenges The path forward Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. From precedent to progress, LexisNexis New Zealand’s 111...
Communicating Trust During a Corporate Crisis – Insights from the Hato Hone St John Team
Summary The best in-house lawyers are pragmatic in a crisis Invest in your worst-case scenario In today’s fast-paced media environment, corporate crises demand swift, coordinated responses between legal, communications, and operations teams. Waiting for complete information before acting can damage public trust. The risks of simply doing business have escalated. Is your legal department properly prepared...
Kirikiriroa to host world’s first International Indigenous Judges Conference
Summary Starting at the beginning can be trickier than you think Indigenous judging versus indigenous judges Technology and traditional knowledge Cultural immersion, legal learning, tradition versus modernity Building lasting connections Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. Kirikiriroa/Hamilton will host an unprecedented gathering next weekend as indigenous judges from across...
From Hong Kong beginnings to NZ courts, Eva Ho’s career shows the power of adapting to every challenge
Summary The human connection The AI advantage Personal approach Access to justice implications Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. Eva Ho is no stranger to unfamiliar territory. Long before becoming principal at Focus Law in Auckland, she spent five years in Hong Kong studying and then practicing as a social worker, moving through crowded neighbourhoods, listening to families...
Children’s voices in the family justice system — hearing children’s views before making life-changing decisions for them
Summary Introduction Hearing a child’s views and allowing them to participate — what that involves Why children’s views should be listened to before making care and guardianship decisions for them: Practical life-enhancing reasons The legal requirement that children’s views be heard beforemaking care and guardianship decisions for them The current New Zealand situation Are children heard in Family Dispute...
Mai Chen on a career that matters, the future of cultural intelligence and AI in law
Summary Shaping legal understanding for Asian New Zealanders “I was always an Energizer Bunny.” The liberation of solo practice The AI revolution in law “There are things that have to get done.” Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. If you are involved in the legal world in New Zealand, and haven’t been living under a rock, you will likely know the name Mai Chen. Chen’s...
Valuation of Cryptocurrency in Relationship Property Disputes
Summary Introduction Volatility of cryptocurrency Principles of valuation Volatility and relationship property Bypassing valuation Circumstances warranting valuation Allegedly lost or stolen New Zealand case Australian cases Trivial amount Violation of restraining order Cryptocurrency-restricted jurisdiction Capital versus income Non-fungible tokens Post-separation contribution and dissipation...
Transitioning from partner to barrister and embracing AI in law
Summary Innovation in law: the role of AI Looking to the future Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. After fifteen years as a litigator and over a decade as a director and partner at boutique law firm SD Legal, Dushan Delic has bid farewell to his role as a solicitor. Driven by a desire for independence, autonomy, and a deeper focus on his areas of expertise, Delic has struck...
AI is transforming law, boosting efficiency and opportunity – even as lawyers must adapt
Summary How is AI changing legal efficiency and junior lawyers’ roles? What are the risks of AI for legal careers and succession planning? Which parts of legal work remain essential despite AI automation? How is AI improving practice management and client engagement? Can AI improve access to justice? What challenges exist between public and private sector AI adoption? Why must lawyers embrace AI as a ...
The work of the NZ Bar Association as technology brings change
Summary AI – more opportunity than risk? The sheer volume of material Building excellence through community Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. Not so long ago, legal proceedings involved the exchange and filing of written pleadings followed by largely oral process with a judge giving a decision at the end of the hearing. This now feels like ancient history, according to Paul...
Law Society warns of challenges to the rule of law despite global ranking
Summary When justice is out of reach, and speed trumps scrutiny Defending judicial independence Looking ahead Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. Aotearoa New Zealand currently ranks sixth globally for rule of law, according to the World Justice Project’s 2024 rankings - however, those on the front lines of the legal system are seeing cracks that suggest we shouldn't get too...
New leaders seek to modernise Criminal Bar Association one podcast and tech fix at a time
Summary A modern image for the criminal bar Courts in need of a digital overhaul "Time is money" Choosing the right legal AI solution "That's Just Criminal” podcast LexisNexis partnership CBANZ membership benefits Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. In a profession built on tradition and where the human stakes are very high, even small changes can echo loudly. Annabel...
From small town beginnings to national impact: Employment law firm championing workplace transformation
Summary Building a firm for the future Technology as a competitive advantage Employment Law Bulletin contributions Challenging the status quo through research The human element of legal practice A close eye on the road ahead Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. Caroline Rieger believes employment law has the power to transform. "Employment law has the ability to really...
New Zealand Law Society launches major AI research project
Summary Getting ahead of the curve Shifting to a proactive strategy Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. When a lawyer asked a New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa librarian to track down a case cited by an AI tool - and it didn’t exist - it became clear just how urgently the profession needs guidance. Artificial intelligence is already in many of New Zealand’s legal...
How to Select a Responsible AI Business Partner
Summary Transparency Humans in the Loop Data Governance This article was written by Geoffrey D. Ivnik, Esq. | Director of Large Markets, LexisNexis ® in our US office. Lexis+ AI ® was launched in the US in October 2023, and Geoffrey has written this article with the benefit of seeing the generative AI solution in the market for a while. We believe that this article is valuable to New Zealand lawyers as they...
Meet the incoming Managing Director for LexisNexis Asia & Pacific
Summary Key priorities in a new role The road ahead Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. After more than a decade with LexisNexis, Katy Fixter is stepping into one of the most promising growth markets in LexisNexis – leading the company’s Asia Pacific operations as managing director. The move brings her full circle, back to a position deeply connected to the legal profession that...
The future of probate law by authors of bestseller
Summary Keeping up with change – and staying practical The future of probate – technology, tikanga, and legal reform Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. For legal professionals dealing with wills, estates, and probate, Dobbie’s Probate and Administration Practice has long been a go-to resource. Now in its seventh edition, the LexisNexis NZ publication continues to evolve with...
The right to strike in Aotearoa — past, present and future?
Copyright of the Employment Law Bulletin is the property of LexisNexis NZ Ltd and its content may not be copied, saved or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's written permission. However, users may print, download or email articles for individual use. This article is written by Jock Lawrie (PSA Legal Officer) and is part of Employment Law Bulletin No.6 issue, November 2024...
Entering a new era of legal technology in 2025
Summary Navigating a year of challenges AI and content: the dynamic duo A commitment to empowering communities Originally published by NZ Lawyer . Republished with permission. New Zealand’s legal industry is at an exciting juncture, with new technology reshaping how lawyers conduct their day-to-day work. LexisNexis New Zealand is at the forefront of this transformation, spearheading advancements in AI...
How smarter tools can transform legal work
Summary The role of AI in streamlining legal work A people-first approach in a tech-driven world For Claire Tyler, managing partner at Rainey Collins, the legal industry is a landscape of tradition – but also, an exciting frontier of technological transformation. With nearly two decades of experience specialising in property and commercial law, Tyler has built a career around providing pragmatic advice to...
Trade unions in New Zealand: past, present and future
Summary Unions during the arbitration era The neoliberal war on unions and a new normal Conclusion A new future for unions and collective bargaining? Copyright of the Employment Law Bulletin is the property of LexisNexis NZ Ltd and its content may not be copied, saved or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's written permission. However, users may print, download...
“The balance thing”: Family Court lawyers discuss the ethics of representing parents in Care of Children disputes
Summary Introduction 1 Methodology Research literature review Findings: the special ethical character of Family Court lawyering Empathetic but objective Wider ethical commitments: children and conciliation The dysfunctional client “Reality checking:” dysfunctionality and empathetic objectivity Problems with “the balance thing” Too many masters Overwhelming client autonomy Taking conciliation...