Approach

We are committed to doing our best to ensure that your legal needs are met. We will:

• Protect and promote your interests and act for you free from compromising influences or loyalties.
• Discuss with you your objectives and how they should best be achieved.
• Act competently, in a timely way, and in accordance with instructions received and arrangements made.
• Provide you with information about the work to be done, who will do it and the way the services will be provided.
• Protect your privacy and ensure appropriate confidentiality.
• Treat you fairly, respectfully and without discrimination.
• Give you clear information and advice.
• Keep you informed about the work being done and advise you when it is completed.
• Charge you a fee that is fair and reasonable and let you know how and when you will be billed.
• Let you know how to make a complaint and deal with any complaint promptly and fairly.

The obligations lawyers owe to clients are described in the Rules of Conduct and Client Care for Lawyers. Those obligations are subject to other overriding duties, including duties to the courts and the justice system. If you have any questions, please contact us on 03 218 3137 or law@hewatgalt.co.nz or the Law Society on 0800 261 801 or lawsociety.org.nz.

The basis of our charges

Unless agreed otherwise our fees are based on the range of factors applied by the NZ Law Society, including time, expertise, importance, urgency and results achieved. Rates may change from time to time, and a full list of the rates of any lawyers working for you is available at any time. We also charge for disbursements (court fees, registrations, duties/levies etc) and travel expenses incurred on your behalf. These will be itemised separately, and we will notify you if any fees or disbursements need to be paid for in advance.

Billing arrangements

To help you budget we issue interim accounts, usually monthly, while work is in progress, with a final bill on completion. Current payment terms are set out on invoices from time to time, and unless otherwise stated are due for payment within 14 days. We may deduct from funds held on your behalf any fees, disbursements or expenses for which we have provided an invoice.

Professional indemnity insurance & fidelity fund

We hold professional indemnity insurance that meets or exceeds standards specified by the Law Society. The Lawyers’ Fidelity Fund also provides a limited form of cover up to specified maximums in certain circumstances, generally excluding investment monies.

Completion

When a matter is completed, we will advise you accordingly and provide a brief summary of the work undertaken if we have not already done so. Where appropriate we will also identify any necessary future action that may be required.

Privacy

We collect personal information from you, including information about your:

• name
• contact information
• location
• billing or purchase information

We collect your personal information in order to:

• Comply with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009(AML/CFT)

Besides our staff, we share this information with:

• The Department of Internal Affairs and NZTA in order to audit our AML/CFT practices.

If you choose not to give us your identification, we'll be unable to provide legal services to you. You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, please contact us at law@hewatgalt.co.nz, or 03 2183137, or PO Box 11 Invercargill 9810.

If you have any concerns or complaints that you prefer not to raise with the Lawyer who has overall responsibility for your matter, please contact the NZ Law Society’s Lawyers’ Complaints Service, at 26 Waring Taylor Street, PO Box 5041, Wellington 6145, phone 04 472 7837 or 0800 261 801, fax 04 473 7909.

We are committed to resolving any issues as soon as possible.

If you are unable to fund your own legal costs you can apply for Legal Aid. Legal aid can provide financial assistance for the following types of legal matters:

• Criminal offenses carrying a prison sentence of six months or more.
• Family disputes such as child support and disputes around caring for children.
• Civil disputes that might go to court such as debt recovery and breach of contract.

You cannot receive legal aid for the following matters:

• Divorce
• Problems that would not go to court
• Immigration matters (except for refugee matters)
• Companies or groups of people (apart from occasional Waitangi Tribunal cases)
• Reviews by Work and Income
• Problems with schools, universities and other educational institutions
• Disputes Tribunal cases
• Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal cases

Legal aid is means tested, therefore, depending on your assets and income you may have to pay a proportion of your legal fees yourself, with legal aid making up the balance.

For information on legal aid see What is legal aid? or contact us and we will assist you with any questions you may have.

We understand price is an important consideration when deciding which legal firm will best represent your interests. At Hewat Galt, we make an effort to ensure our prices are reasonable for the quality of the service we provide.

Our prices vary depending on the services required, however, we will agree a fixed fee where possible. A letter of engagement will be sent to you outlining the final cost before work commences. No additional costs will be added without your consent, and we will keep you up to date on how your matter is progressing throughout the process.