H (a law practitioner) v Auckland District Law Society - [1985] 1 NZLR 8

Law practitioners — Disciplinary proceedings — Procedure to be followed by District Council when investigating a complaint — Jurisdiction of New Zealand Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal — Complaint was made in February 1983, practitioner was interviewed by District Council members in March, and five charges of professional misconduct were laid in April before the New Zealand Disciplinary Tribunal under 1982 Act — Tribunal amended one charge, found only the amended charge proved and suspended practitioner for six months ordering him to pay $5000 towards costs of New Zealand Law Society and Auckland District Law Society — Whether the charges should have been brought under the Law Practitioners Act 1955 - Whether Tribunal had power to amend a charge — Whether penalty was excessive — Law Practitioners Act 1982, ss 101, 130 and 192(3).