[2023] NZIACDT 16 — WS v Lawlor (John Desmond Lawlor)

Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal · decided 9 May 2023 · adviser: John Desmond Lawlor

The tribunal's published summary

Sanctions / misleading behaviour / gave false reasons for delay, misleading complainant that NZQA assessment had been filed / filed an incomplete application and filed other applications not in a timely manner / failed to provide timely updates, invoices, a new or amended written agreement, and satisfy refund obligations / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s3, s17, s19, s50, s51 / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl18a, cl22, cl24b, cl24c, cl25a, cl25e, cl25f, cl26b / HELD / second appearance before Tribunal / serious misconduct given deceit / health deterioration provides context but not a justification / adviser acknowledged wrongdoing and has not renewed licence / adviser censured / no training ordered as unlikely to return to profession / suspension unnecessary / $3,000 financial penalty, given totality of sanctions and some priority to compensation / no evidence further refund required / compensation of $2,000 awarded for distress

Read the full decision (PDF, Ministry of Justice)

This page reproduces the tribunal's own published summary as a fair report of public tribunal proceedings; the linked decision is the authoritative record. A decision is not itself a finding of wrongdoing — some complaints are dismissed. Complainants are anonymised by the tribunal. Complaints about advisers go to the Immigration Advisers Authority.