Wellington Women Lawyers Association New Zealand NZ submissions legal law

<body topmargin="0" leftmargin="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" class="backColour"> <b>ABOUT THE WELLINGTON WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION</b></font><font color="#990000" size="3"><b></span></b></font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Wellington Women Lawyers Association was formed in 1983.  It is an incorporated society.  Its stated objects are:</font></p> <p align="left" class="ListNumber8"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">                </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ">To work for equal opportunity and the advancement of women in the study and practice of law</span></font></p> <p align="left" class="ListNumber8"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">                </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ">To work for the reform of the law and its administration, and for the advancement of social policy, in order to promote and protect the interests of women</span></font></p> <p align="left" class="ListNumber8"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">                </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ">To promote the use of womens skills in law</span></font></p> <p align="left" class="ListNumber8"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">                </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ">To facilitate social contact amongst members</span></font></p> <p align="left" class="ListNumber8"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">                </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ">To work for and promote the establishment of associations with similar objects throughout New Zealand</span></font></p> <p align="left" class="ListNumber8"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">                </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ">To affiliate with and maintain connections with national and international associations with similar objects.</span></font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><b><span lang="EN-GB"></b><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>What do we do?</b></font><font size="2"><b></span></b></font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ">The way that this translates in practical terms is as follows:</span></font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ"><b>Monthly activities:</span><span> </span></b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><span></b> </span>In recent times we have organised a range of activities including a seminar on women lawyers as academics, an evening at Circa theatre to see Wit, an evening to celebrate Wellingtons Women Queens Counsel, a Christmas dinner, a get together in Lower Hutt and a tour of the new court there, and for the future we have planned a panel discussion on the Property Relationships Bill, a debate, an annual general meeting with guest speaker and golf.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We endeavour to cater for all of the ages and stages of our members in terms of content.  Some meetings are in the evening, but others are at lunchtime so that women with family commitments can come.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Newsletters</span><span lang="EN-NZ">:</span></b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><span lang="EN-NZ"></b> We produce an action-packed newsletter bi-monthly to inform and delight.</span></font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Lobbying</span>:</b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Where political issues arise that are of interest or concern to our members or to women generally, we comment where the committee considers such a course is warranted.  In doing so, we consult as widely as possible to ensure that we are reflecting the attitudes of the Association members as a whole.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ"><b>Nominations for High Court Judge Appointments</span>:</b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">  We are approached on a regular basis by the Solicitor-General and invited to nominate persons for appointment as Judges of the High Court.  </font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Womens Consultative Group</span>:</b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">  The Association has a representative on the NZLS National Womens Consultative Group.  The Group has 10 members and a convenor and meets five times a year.  The NZLS established the Group to ensure that the views of women practitioners are taken into account in the Societys decisions and processes.</font></p> <b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial;"Times New Roman";"></b> <p align="left"><b><br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always"> </span></b> </p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Council Brief articles</span>: </b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> We write a monthly article for Council Brief.  Each month we profile a different Wellington women who is either in the law, or associated with the law.  The aim of the article is twofold.  First, it raises the profiles of some of the women in (or associated with) the legal community.  Second, it gives insight and information to readers about the diversity of career paths and options that are available.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Nationwide networking</span>:</b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">  There are women lawyers associations in Auckland, Christchurch and Otago, with whom we meet annually to share ideas and information on a national basis.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><b><span lang="EN-GB"></b><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Liaison with women students at VUW</b></font><font size="2"><b></span></b></font><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>: </b></font> We liaise with women faculty members and students to ensure that they can share the benefit of job information, networking opportunities and forums to discuss relevant issues.</p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Contact with Legal Professionals students</span>:</b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">  We speak to every professionals intake about why we exist, what we do and how to join.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Work referral list</span>:</b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">  We keep a list of women who are interested in having work referred to them in their area of expertise.  When we get enquiries from the public, we provide names and contact numbers of members who have suitable experience.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Board appointments</span>: </b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> If a member indicates that she wishes to be considered for Board or other statutory appointments, we refer her contact details to the Ministry of Womens Affairs.  Once the member concerned has filled in the Ministrys nomination form and provided a CV, she will be added to the Ministrys database, which is regularly consulted when statutory appointments are made.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Mentoring programme</span>:</b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">  We have set up a mentoring programme which links senior women practitioners (5 years or more) with less experienced or newly admitted practitioners.  We have established a database of potential mentors and those who wish to be mentees.  We provide initial mentoring guidelines to  participants.  Once the mentoring relationship has been formed, it is up to the participants as to how they wish to run it.  We particularly encourage members to volunteer to act as mentors to pass on their wisdom, experience and suggestions to newer practitioners.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Employment advice</span>:</b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">  We have a list of women practitioners with experience in employment law who are willing to provide preliminary advice on a confidential, pro bono basis to women lawyers who are encountering employment problems (including sexual harassment) in the workplace.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Submissions on relevant legislation</span>:  </b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We have a subcommittee that takes an active role in monitoring the development of legislation and policy that impacts on women.  Where the subcommittee considers than an Association submission is desirable, it brings together a group of  Association members with expertise in the area and puts together a submission which is made in the Associations name.  If you have views on any bills or discussion papers we encourage you to convey your thoughts to the members of this subcommittee.</font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span lang="EN-NZ"><b>Website</span>:</b></font><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">  Our website is at </font><a href="/abode/getCategoryProducts.do/_siteId__19/_categoryId__19/method__getCategoryProducts/resultSetStart__0/resultSetCount__10/orderByAttribute__Position"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">www.wwla.org.nz.</font></a></p> <b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial;"Times New Roman";"></b> <p align="left"><b><br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always"> </span></b> </p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><b><span lang="EN-GB"></b><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>So thats us </b></font><font size="2"><b></span></b></font></p> <p align="left" class="Paragraph"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Wellington Women Lawyers Association has around 300 members, and our membership continues to grow.  The potential of the Association is limited only by the energy of its members (which at the moment seems to be fairly limitless).  Membership costs $50 per year, or $20 if you are unwaged.  The fee can be waived in special circumstances.  If you would like a membership application, you can write to us at PO Box 118, Wellington, or feel free to call me on 470-4408 or our Secretary, Vanessa Horne on 496-2242.</font></p> <br><br><br> <a href="http://www.dolithe.com">Website Design by doLithe</a> </body>