A set of professional conduct rules kick in today for New Zealand's lawyers.

Enforced by the Law Society, the rules clarify the standards of behaviour expected of lawyers around clients and colleagues.

Aotearoa Legal Workers Association director Harrison Cunningham says there are three key changes.

He told Kate Hawkesby two are clear definitions of bullying and harassment.

“And the third one is a lowering of the threshold for essentially when lawyers have to tell on each other.”

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