New lawyers urged to set high standards

Proud lawyers from left, Paula Wilson, Callum Martin and Olivia Manning flank Justice Anne Hinton after their admission to the bar in the High Court at Whangarei. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Paula Wilson bagged a law degree nearly two decades ago but didn't quite practise the trade until this year.

The law clerk at Henderson Reeves was one of three Northlanders admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the High Court at Whangarei last week. Former Kerikeri resident Olivia Manning and ex Bream Bay College student Callum Martin are the other new lawyers.

For Ms Wilson, she is delighted to be finally practising law.

Of Ngati Awa, Ngati Whakaue and Ngati Pakeha descent, the mother-of-one is a fluent Maori and Japanese speaker having studied the foreign language at Tikipunga High School and at Otago University.

Her interest in law was borne out of the fact she always wanted to stick up for others, even at school.

"Being involved as a student rep on the school board of trustees, advocating and sticking up for other people," she said.

Ms Wilson has had a distinguished career as a diplomat, serving at the New Zealand High Commission in Tokyo as the second secretary for political and foreign policy.

She started working as a law clerk at Henderson Reeves in February and is keen to practise civil litigation and resource management cases.

Ms Manning is practising at Southern Cross Chambers in Auckland and said she ventured into law as she wanted to help people. Her areas of practice are resource management and public law.

"The access to justice is always an important issue but the cost means it's not always easy," she said.

Working as a law clerk in Auckland since 2015 was a "fantastic" experience, she said.

Admitting them to the bar, Justice Anne Hinton urged them to put honesty, integrity and fair dealing at the forefront of their work.

The legal profession, she said, was extremely collegial as lawyers were always acting either together or against each other.

She said the Romans regarded law, medicine and church as the three noble professions.
Justice Hinton encouraged the new lawyers to do pro bono work - work undertaken voluntarily and without payment - as it would broaden their horizon.

"You must uphold and protect the rule of law. People rely on your judgment so never do anything to harm their trust in you."