Do you act in matters relating to judicial review and other proceedings or are you an inhouse public sector decision-maker ? Then you can’t miss the Making Effective Public Law Decisions Workshop. This is an essential workshop that will assist your everyday practice. Join Ben Keith, a Wellington barrister and specialist in public law and together address good practice around public law decisions, legal risk management, conduct and defence of public law challenges and current developments. Unpack what constitutes an effective decision in Public Law and the steps that need to be taken to achieve it. Master anticipating challenges and complaints and the prospects of a legal challenge as well as rectifying an error if made.
Attend and earn 3 CPD hours
This workshop has been designed for practitioners working with judicial review and other proceedings and inhouse decision-makers at all levels. It addresses good practice around public law decisions, legal risk management, conduct and defence of public law challenges and current developments.
- What is an Effective Administrative Decision?
- What it means to make effective decisions, include evidence-based decision-making
- Trends and prospects for administrative decision making
- Prospects of legal challenge
- Getting the Legal Framework Right
- What is the applicable law?
- Who is able to make the decision?
- Delegation
- Judicial Review
- What are the Steps?
3.30pm to 3.45pm Afternoon tea break
- The Process of Effective Decision Making
- Gathering and using relevant information
- Information disclosure: Public Records Act, Privacy Act
- Good procedure in making and documenting decisions, including natural justice requirements
- When Things Might or Do Go Wrong
- Anticipating and handling complaints and challenges
- Conduct and defence of public law challenges
- Recent Case Law and Developments
Presented by Ben Keith, Barrister, Woodward Street
- Understand the foundations of the legal framework underpinning decision making
- Consider the wider context that affects decision making
- Develop strategies to ensure fairness and avoid actual or apparent conflicts or bias
- Receive valuable practical guidance on decision making tools
- Learn how to anticipate and respond to a complaint or challenge
Presenters
Ben Keith, Barrister, Woodward Street
Ben Keith is a barrister at Woodward Street Chambers, Wellington, principally practising in administrative, human rights and public international law. He has previously worked as a specialist Crown Counsel with the New Zealand Crown Law Office and was also the first Deputy Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security. Ben has conducted proceedings at all levels of the New Zealand court system, including matters before the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Privy Council and the Waitangi Tribunal, as well as in a number of other jurisdictions and before United Nations fora. Significant public matters include precedent decisions in administrative and constitutional law; human rights; national security; public and private international law; and regulatory/investigatory powers, as well as numerous published legal opinions and other work. His voluntary professional activities include regular substantial pro bono matters and past membership of New Zealand Law Society law reform committees and other bodies.