Justice requires truth. Free speech gets us there.

Free speech is crucial to the legal profession.

Our justice system is built on an adversarial system of debate, interrogation, and intellectual challenge

Join Us

This is impossible without free speech.

An erosion of free speech around the world, but particularly in the English-speaking West, stands to threaten the integrity of numerous professions; academics and journalists included. Yet, this erosion is no more concerning than for the legal profession, and as a result, also to the rule of law.

This is why the Free Speech Union is dedicated to defending and expanding all Kiwis’ free speech.

Free speech is not only a privilege but also a responsibility within the legal profession. It upholds the integrity of legal proceedings, nurtures intellectual development, and defends fundamental rights.

There is hope

By embracing and defending free speech, legal professionals uphold the principles of justice, equality, and democracy that underpin the rule of law. This means lawyers not only fulfil their professional duties but also contribute to the maintenance of a free, fair, and democratic society.

The ideal of the fearless advocate exists recognises that it is often an intimidating task to advocate for a person or cause that is unpopular or reviled, even when justice is ultimately on their side.

This will never be easy, but we can make it easier if we each strive to defend and uphold the freedom of speech for ourselves and others, holding our institutions to high free speech standards.

Lawyers, kaitiaki of the law and advocates for justice, play a critical role in preserving and promoting free speech as a fundamental human right and essential pillar of democracy.

The right to speak without fear of unjust retribution is the sine qua non, not only our justice system, but of our democracy.

Free speech is the foundation on which our liberal vision of human rights and civil liberties is founded. Without robust and vibrant free speech in our legal profession, the pursuit of justice will be thwarted.

Join a community of legal professionals committed to the cause.