The 2018 Annual Norris Ward McKinnon Lecture: Aiming at Simplicity, by the Hon Robert Fisher QC

Can law be simpler? It may not be apparent to those inside the legal tent, but law is complicated. This is obvious to the public who have to make sense of what lawyers say. The legal world also pays a great price. At best, hacking their way through unnecessary complexity wastes time and money. At worst, it can derail the whole attempt to think clearly.

Simple concepts promote lucid reasoning. Simple language is more readily understood. It is up to everyone in the legal community - judges, advocates, solicitors, lecturers and textbook writers – to do better. The Hon Robert Fisher will share his insights and offer some ideas as to how to go about that.

About the Hon Robert Fisher QC

Prior to establishing his practice as a mediator and arbitrator in 2004, the Hon Robert Fisher QC practiced law for 24 years until his appointment to the High Court in 1989. As a judge he held positions as Chairman of the NZ Rules Committee, Supervising Judge of the Commercial List, Executive Judge of the Auckland High Court, Senior Judge of the Auckland High Court, and divisional member of the NZ Court of Appeal. He has published and lectured on relationship property, evidence, procedure, intellectual property, maritime law, jurisprudence, advocacy, mediation and arbitration. His qualifications and appointments include Doctor of Laws (1984), Queen’s Counsel (1985) and Fulbright Scholar (1994).

He is a member of the Courts of Appeal of Samoa and the Cook Islands and has provided a series of public interest inquiry reports for the New Zealand Government.