Two Auckland criminal barristers have each begun a project to help sentenced people in different ways than defending them or providing legal services.

Susan Gray and Emma Priest, from the recently re-established Blackstone Chambers, aim to follow the words of Barbara Mikulski, who said: “Each one of us can make a difference. Together we make change.”

A group of people accused of kidnapping a Thai woman before she leaped to her death from a moving car called themselves 'ghost unit' and tried to kidnap her once before, court documents reveal. 

Six people have denied Jindarat Prutsiriporn's manslaughter and five others have denied kidnapping her and will stand trial in May next year. 

Auckland criminal barrister Emma Priest has helped develop a practice management app specifically for barristers.

It began when she went out as a barrister earlier this year, re-establishing Blackstone Chambers in Wyndham Street together with a number of other colleagues.

“One of my key concerns was what document and practice management system I should use,” Ms Priest says.

A man was left with a facial gash needing 35 stitches after trying to stop a hammer-wielding jewellery thief at Auckland's biggest mall.

The father of one, who worked at Sylvia Park, saw 23-year-old Ora Neilson leave the Michael Hill store after smashing open a cabinet and grabbing nearly $40,000 of necklaces in May.

A 22-year-old man accused of bashing a man with a hammer during a robbery attempt at an Auckland jewellers has been remanded in custody.

Ora Neilson, of Mount Wellington, appeared in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday by video link.

He has been charged with aggravated wounding and shoplifting at Sylvia Park mall on May 26.

The issue of retention of women in senior roles in the law is a hot topic. A qualitative research project has been undertaken by the AWLA and a strong stance has been taken by Chris Moore, president of the New Zealand Law Soceity, declaring the progression of women in the law to be the Society’s theme for 2014.