One of the first six Family Court Associates was sworn in by Judge Jackie Moran in the Queenstown District Court this week.
Sworn in was Queenstown-based Rachel Lohrey. Ms Lohrey is a principal adviser at the Institute of Judicial Studies.
Ms Lohrey has experience in Family Court, including practising in Christchurch, and being an in-house lawyer for Oranga Tamariki in Palmerston North before starting her private practice based in Invercargill.
She also taught at the College of Law.
