Joining the Legal Assistance Panel
If you are a lawyer with suitable experience and would like to be part of the Sports Tribunal’s Legal Assistance Panel, please apply to the Registrar at [email protected].
Lawyers with the following skills and experience will be considered by the Chair for inclusion on the Legal Assistance Panel:
- At least 5 years post qualification experience
- A background in sports law
- Litigation experience (preferred)
- A current New Zealand Practising Certificate
- These attributes may be modified in the case of an applicant where good cause is shown.
Tribunal hearings are conducted remotely, usually by video or telephone conference.
Legal Support Fund – Payment
The Legal Support Fund is implemented and paid by the Sport Integrity Commission (SIC). SIC will pay the legal support fund direct to a Panel Lawyer, on receipt of an invoice for their completed work.
The invoice must state that the Panel Lawyer’s work was carried out directly in relation to the alleged ADRV. The invoice will not include itemised narrations, ensuring that the SIC is not aware of the status of the Athlete’s case. For confidentiality purposes, the invoice will also not include the Athlete’s name and will instead only list the Athlete’s referral number.
If you have any questions or comments about the Legal Support Fund, please contact the Tribunal’s Registrar at [email protected] or the SIC at [email protected].
Mentor Scheme
The Sports Tribunal is committed to attracting a diversity and range of Legal Assistance Panel members, and to assist those who wish to develop sports law skills.
It has established a pathway for interested lawyers, with some litigation experience, who need experience in sports law before becoming a member of the Legal Assistance Panel.
Under this pathway, you will receive mentoring from an existing member of the Legal Assistance Panel, to work alongside them over the course of a case before the Tribunal.
Experienced sports lawyers have indicated their support for this scheme, given their obligations to support more junior practitioners, and because there is often a need for work by a junior in briefing and supporting more senior counsel. The names of those approved under the Mentor Scheme will be placed on the Tribunal’s website for reference by counsel who wish to mentor and involve someone on a case at:
If you would like to be considered under this pathway, please apply to the Registrar at: [email protected] or phone 0800 55 66 80 for more information.