ALSA is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members, executive, mentors, partner firms, and guests. This Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected at all ALSA events, communications, and platforms.
By becoming a member or attending an ALSA event, you agree to abide by this Code.
1. Our Commitments
ALSA is built on three commitments:
- Respect: We treat each member, guest, and partner with dignity and courtesy, regardless of background, identity, or experience.
- Professionalism: We hold ourselves to standards befitting students entering the legal profession.
- Inclusion: We welcome students from all heritage backgrounds, year groups, degree pathways, and career interests.
2. Expected Behaviour
All members, executive, and guests are expected to:
- Engage with others respectfully, even when views differ. Disagreement is welcome; dismissiveness is not. How you treat someone with a different perspective reflects on you and on ALSA.
- Listen actively and give others space to contribute. Not everyone speaks up easily. A good ALSA environment is one where quieter voices are heard, not talked over.
- Use inclusive language and respect each person's identity. If you are corrected, accept it without defensiveness. Intent matters less than impact.
- Behave responsibly at events, including those where alcohol is served. You represent ALSA in these spaces. Conduct that you would not take into a law firm is not appropriate here either.
- Honour confidentiality. What is shared in mentoring conversations and ALSA spaces stays there. Trust is the foundation everything else runs on.
- Represent ALSA professionally with partner firms, sponsors, and the university. These relationships matter for every member who comes after you.
3. Unacceptable Behaviour
The following will not be tolerated at any ALSA event, communication channel, or platform:
- Harassment, intimidation, or bullying in any form, whether based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or any other characteristic
- Discriminatory language, jokes, or behaviour
- Sexual harassment or unwanted physical contact
- Use of slurs, hate speech, or aggressive language toward any individual or group
- Misuse of alcohol, drugs, or any conduct that endangers the wellbeing of others
- Misrepresenting ALSA or its partners in any capacity
- Sharing confidential information from mentoring conversations, sponsor meetings, or executive discussions without consent
- Retaliation against any person who reports a concern in good faith
4. Mentoring Relationships
The mentoring programme is built on trust. Mentors and mentees agree to:
- Maintain professional boundaries at all times
- Treat the relationship as confidential unless both parties agree otherwise
- Raise any concerns about the pairing with the ALSA mentoring officers promptly
Mentoring is a professional relationship, not a personal or romantic one. Any breach of this boundary will result in immediate removal from the programme.
5. Reporting Concerns
If you experience or witness behaviour that breaches this Code, we want to hear from you. You can report a concern in any of the following ways:
- Email our executive team at Enquiries@alsaauckland.org
- Speak in person or via private message to any member of the ALSA cabinet (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Operations Director, or Marketing Director)
- If the concern involves a cabinet member, you can contact a non-cabinet executive officer or escalate to a relevant external body
All reports will be taken seriously and treated with discretion. We will:
- Acknowledge your report within three working days
- Investigate the matter fairly and confidentially
- Take appropriate action, which may include a verbal warning, suspension from ALSA activities, or removal of membership
- Keep you informed of progress where appropriate, while respecting the privacy of others involved
6. Severe Misconduct
For matters involving criminal behaviour, threats to safety, or other serious harm, we will:
- Encourage and support the affected person to contact the New Zealand Police, the University, or appropriate authorities
- Cooperate fully with any investigation
- Take immediate protective measures within the scope of ALSA's authority, including suspending the implicated person from ALSA activities pending resolution
7. Scope
This Code applies to all ALSA events (in-person and online), communications (email, social media, group chats), and any other interactions where members are representing or participating in ALSA.
8. Disclaimers
ALSA is a student organisation, not a law firm. Nothing we provide is legal advice. For advice on a specific legal matter, consult a qualified, practising lawyer.
General information only
ALSA's programmes, workshops, newsletter, website, events, and mentoring are educational and general in nature. Nothing ALSA publishes, shares, or discusses constitutes legal, professional, financial, or career advice, and it should not be relied on as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who understands your circumstances.
No guaranteed outcomes
ALSA's programmes are designed to build skills, confidence, and connections. We do not guarantee employment, clerkships, internships, academic results, or any particular career or academic outcome. Participation in ALSA is one of many factors that contribute to a person's development.
Mentoring
Mentors share their own experience and perspectives. Their views are their own and do not represent ALSA or their employers. Mentoring is general guidance offered in good faith, not professional advice, and no decision should be based on it alone.
Third parties and external links
ALSA works with sponsors, partner firms, and other organisations, and our website and materials may link to external sites. ALSA is not responsible for the content, services, accuracy, or conduct of any third party, and a partnership, sponsorship, or link does not imply endorsement.
Accuracy and liability
ALSA aims to keep its information current and correct but does not warrant that everything is complete, accurate, or up to date at all times, and information may change without notice. To the extent permitted by law, ALSA and its executive are not liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information we provide or from participation in our programmes. Nothing in this section limits any rights you have under New Zealand law that cannot be excluded.
9. Updates
We may update this Code from time to time as our community grows and we learn more. Material changes will be communicated through our newsletter. The "Last updated" date indicates when this Code was most recently revised.