Invercargill lawyer Fergus More is officially resting his case — but not before one final verdict is reached.
Mr More is ending a 44-year law career with the honour of receiving a King’s Service Medal.
"I did not expect my career to end with this honour," he said.
Less than 30 days after being bestowed with the award, he is hanging up the robes for good and starting retirement.
When Mr More opened the mailbox a few weeks ago, he was left "gobsmacked."
He was "deeply, deeply honoured", and shocked in the best way possible.
"I don’t see myself as any different to any other practitioner — I’ve just been doing it a lot longer."
He has worked as a partner at Scholefield Law and with many not-for-profits in the community, but most of his work has been advocating for children and youth.
Mr More is the longest-running youth court advocate in New Zealand and longest running lawyer for children in Southland.
He has been the lawyer for Child in Care of Children Act and Oranga Tamariki proceedings since 1985.
Mr More said he would never have been able to help the community if he himself did not have the help of his wife, and his law partner.
His biggest career highlight had been working with, and for, the families and the children of Southland.
After 44 years of practising law, and at 72, Mr More said the demands of the job were definitely becoming more intense, and he believed it was time to rest his feet.
"I’ll leave it in the hands of the younger set now."
