Why should I join ELINZ, what are the benefits?
Well, there are a number of benefits to joining ELINZ:
- Collegiality:
If you’re a sole practitioner, working on your own can be pretty lonely. Our president refers to it as “professional isolation”. Being a member means you can access friends and colleagues for advice, support, or even just a catch-up and a coffee – all at the click of a mouse. We are currently overhauling / updating our website and a new wenbiste is in the pipeline. Even if you’re part of a team of employment practitioners in a company or law firm, it’s good to step outside your circle of contacts every now and then and get to know other practitioners. - Networking: Again, whether you’re on your own or part of a team, it’s great to get out and get to know some new people. Who knows, you might end up on the other side of a dispute with them and if you’ve already got the foundation of a relationship with them, resolving the dispute might be that much easier – that’s a win-win!
- CPD / CLE: ELINZ is affiliated with the NZ Law Society, the Employment Law Committees (national and local branches), AMINZ and HRINZ. As a result, ELINZ members can access courses, seminars and webinars to upskill (and that count towards CPD) at discounted rates.
- Legal aid: If you are an advocate wishing to provide legal aid services in employment law, you will need to become a member of ELINZ.
Legal aid is a great way to supplement your client base and provides a vital service to people / communities who cannot always access specialised legal advice. Further information about providing legal aid services as an employment law advocate can be found here: https://www.justice.govt.nz/about/lawyers-and-service-providers/legal-aid-lawyers/quality-assurance-framework/providing-legal-aid-services/ - Advertising: By joining ELINZ, you’ll get your name and contact details on the ELINZ website. This will allow members of the public, as well as colleagues, to easily find you and get in touch. This is just one more way for you to get your name ‘out there’ and to get work coming in.
- Active participation: By becoming a member of ELINZ, you’ll be an active participant of the employment law industry and its many and rapid changes. You’ll be encouraged to whip out your writing skills and contribute to our newsletters (and secure your fifteen minutes of fame at the same time!). You’ll be made aware of any cases of particular interest or importance. You’ll be kept in the loop with any communications or practice notes ELINZ receives from the Employment Court or the ERA. And you’ll be provided with updates about legislative amendments, as well as the opportunity to provide submissions on law changes and access to ELINZ submissions on law changes.
- Membership benefits: We are pleased to report that we have some great people on our Exec and some even greater ideas about how to make ELINZ better and give back to our members. If you have any suggestions for other products and services that you think other members would be interested in, please contact us at info@elinz.org.nz or use our contact form.