Laidlaw Law & Consultancy says it’s "heartening" to see intentionality in the profession when it comes to upholding these principles
For Laidlaw Law & Consultancy, being named the winner of Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year at the 2022 NZ Law Awards is more than just a nice accolade, it represents “significant milestone in the history of the legal profession as it recognises the importance of building cultural capability, capacity and fluency from a Te Ao Maori perspective”.
“It's been heartening to see an intentional and deliberate shift within the profession towards accepting, acknowledging and adopting strategies that show dedication and commitment to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles”, principal Wi Pere Mita said.
He lauded the integration of these principles into the New Zealand legal profession.
“We're seeing an increase in the uptake of professional development that seeks to increase understanding of how to work in a more culturally responsive way, particularly with respect to tikanga and reo-centric approaches”, Mita explained.
The firm has been hard at work to help others overcome the cost obstacle when it comes to D&I transformation.
“We have been offering scholarships to community organisations to undertake our Tuhono tikanga-based mediation training” Mita added. “We encourage the profession to take similar action”.
More 2022 NZ Law Awards winners discuss their thoughts on the big night in this commemorative guide released earlier this year.
