Prominent Auckland lawyer Barry Hart has told the High Court his career will be over if he can't keep working until an appeal hearing against the Law Society's decision to strike him off.
The society's Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal found Mr Hart guilty last month of three counts of professional misconduct.
An appeal hearing is pencilled in for December, but Mr Hart wants to work until then.
He says if he cannot continue to represent his current clients, his career is over.
The Law Society disputes that, saying other lawyers take time off work, and have no problems re-launching their careers.
It says allowing Mr Hart to work in the meantime will be unfair on his clients, because if he eventually loses the appeal, they will have to find new lawyers and face court delays.
It also says victims of alleged crimes will be unfairly affected by any delay.
Justice Lang has reserved his decision.
