Defence lawyers are challenging moves to establish a fixed fee regime for criminal legal aid, seeking a High Court injunction to stop the scheme’s introduction in March.
The Criminal Bar Association has filed a judicial review in the Auckland High Court, claiming that the proposed changes are unlawful, unreasonable and invalid.
The association says while it accepts the need for the efficient legal aid system, the proposed changes lack proper analysis and consultation. Read full article here.
After two years of going through the court system, a client was found not guilty at judge alone trial under the assistance of Spencer, who successfully convinced the judge that there was reasonable doubt in the client being reckless in receiving the stolen property.
A client was declined entry into the Diversion programme- a Police led initiative which may allow first time offenders to do self-improvement courses instead of receiving a conviction.
Spencer successfully led the client through the right to review process, having the Police reconsider their decision and offer Diversion to her after all.
We are happy to advise that our law clerk, Spencer Wells, has recently been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court.
He has now begun his role within Goodwin Law as a junior barrister, and we look forward to watching his development.
We advise that after close to 5 years working at Goodwin Law, Ciara Chester-Cronin has left the practice, effective from 4 April 2025. We wish her all the best with her future endeavours.
We are pleased to announce that Ciara will be replaced by another successful criminal lawyer, who commences on 12 April (details to be announced shortly). Our law clerk Spencer Wells, who has worked for the practice for 3 years, moves into a fulltime role as a junior following his admission to the Bar on 23 May.