Charl Benno Hirschfeld censured for conduct

Charl Benno Hirschfeld censured for conduct

Auckland barrister Charl Benno Hirschfeld has been censured by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal

Mr Hirschfeld had pleaded guilty to 12 charges of negligence in his professional capacity such as would tend to bring the profession into disrepute.

The charges related to incorrect criminal legal aid invoices he rendered to the Legal Services Agency in 2009 and 2010 where the total overpayment was $1,368.

New Zealand Law Society Auckland Vice President Kathryn Beck says the tribunal found that the level of negligence was at the lower end of the scale.

“The tribunal decided that Mr Hirschfeld was entitled to credit for his previous unblemished career over a period of thirty years,” Ms Beck says.

Mr Hirschfeld was censured, ordered to repay the $1,368, to make a contribution of $20,000 towards the costs of the prosecution and to reimburse the New Zealand Law Society for half the costs of the hearing.

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