The Devil’s Advocate, 3rd Edition

Author Iain Morley KC

The Devil’s Advocate has quickly become the leading handbook and practical guide to advocacy in any adversarial courtroom, in any country, to be read and carried about by any advocate. (UK Title)

“The book of my dreams, the Titanic of the advocacy world (even though it is modestly sized)...Iain Morley has bridged the gap between reading about advocacy and how you actually do it... [the book is] warmly welcomed and should be in every white wig box.” Phillip Taylor, MBE Barrister at Law, in The Barrister

“Quite simply [this] is the best book of its kind. Indeed, it is the only book of its kind… Buy this book. Study it. You won’t regret it.”

Professor AR Forrest, University of Sheffield, in Science & Justice

Price for ADLS members $50.13 plus GST*

Price for non-member lawyers $55.71 plus GST*

(* + Postage and packaging)

To purchase this book, please visit adls.org.nz; alternatively, contact the ADLS bookstore by phone: (09) 306 5740, fax: (09) 306 5741 or email: thestore@adls.org.nz.

Continued from page 05 defence barrister Samira Taghavi and Shine Lawyers managing director Angela Parlane, who also ran for president. Criminal barrister Julie-Anne Kincade KC and cybersecurity consultant Michael Wallmannsberger will remain on the council.

Herring acknowledges the influx of new blood has its challenges.

“It won’t be seamless. It won’t be ‘let’s just carry on doing what we’re doing’ because it’ll take a meeting or two or three to learn where their skills are, what they’re interested in doing and what they might be able to get involved in. They’re not known quantities,” he says. “But fresh eyes always bring a new perspective and that’s exciting. They’ll be motivated to make the profession better, I would hope.”

The fact that ADLS has a president based outside of Auckland – for the first time in 144 years, Herring understands - is proof that the membership body is increasingly being perceived as truly nationwide. It’s ground Herring has broken before: when first elected to the council six years ago, he was ADLS’ first-ever nonAuckland councillor.

Turning that perception of serving all New Zealand lawyers into reality is the next challenge.

“My vision is not only that we are a genuine national organisation that helps all our members on a day-to-day basis, but we are an absolute leader in representing our lawyers through law reform, through select committees, through [our] committees, through the CPD that we offer,” he says.

That vision aligns with ADLS’ rebranding plans. Members attending the AGM were told the organisation wants to drop the “Auckland District” from its name because it doesn’t reflect the body’s national reach, excludes the 46% of members who live elsewhere in New Zealand and something more modern is needed. Members will be given the chance to vote on an alternative.

Herring says he’s familiar with concerns from some members that much of the ADLS legacy might disappear with a name change and it’s a worry he shares. People he’s interacted with, including those who don’t work in the legal service industry, know about the organisation through its valuable webforms, such as the ADLS sale and purchase agreement for real estate.

But he acknowledges that ADLS must move on. “It’s 2023, we have to move on. A name is only a name. We’re not going to destroy everything we’ve built up.”

Wider issues

Being a sought-after organisation with a seat at the table is Herring’s aspiration for ADLS.

“Not only are we sought after by members who want to be members because of the great stuff we offer them, but we’re sought after by media if there’s a story because we’ve got such a good reputation. Politicians seek us out for our views on an issue before they embark on or are drafting policy.”

On some of the problems confronting the profession – access to justice, work culture and inclusion and diversity, to name a few – having influence will prove critical to finding a solution, Herring says. “If we have the ear of the people who make the rules – the politicians or cabinet or select committees or whatever it is – then we’re much more influential.”

Even before I push back on that, Herring has beaten me to the punch. “Power and influence – it sounds dangerous in a way,” he says, before explaining his aspiration for decision-makers to think of the organisation first when contemplating solutions.

Herring wants an ambitious future for ADLS. He just has to knock off that last marathon first. ■