Former Auckland mayor and former ACT leader John Banks gave evidence in support of lawyer Shane Rohde.

A lawyer who drove drunk in a high-speed police chase has avoided suspension from practicing law.

Shane Alan Rohde was censured and fined $10,000 by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal, but was not suspended after former MP John Banks testified that he was helping the lawyer through his alcoholism.

Rohde, the director of Lateral Lawyers in the Auckland suburb of Greenlane, fled from police through suburban streets at 120kmh after being caught drink-driving in September 2015.

His then-employee (now former employee) was in the car with him at the time and Rohde abandoned the car and refused to admit to police that he was the driver, which put his passenger at risk of prosecution.

It was Rohde's second drink-driving conviction following an earlier incident in May 2014.

The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal's standards committee called for Rohde to be suspended for between three to six months.

However, in a decision released this week, chair Judge Dale Clarkson ruled that while the offending was "extremely serious" it was "not necessary to impose a period of suspension".

She said this was based on weighing up all the matters, including the fact Rohde was attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, that he had strong family support and that his clients were not put at risk by the offending or the alcohol problem that led to it.

Rohde said he was happy with the decision: "I'm pleased with the outcome. I think it's a fair decision. I'm committed to my sobriety and helping others who are in a similar predicament."

Banks, a former MP and Auckland mayor, gave evidence to the tribunal that he had "persuaded (Rohde) that he had a serious alcohol addiction, which he could not tackle alone, or without a serious intervention".

Speaking on Thursday after the release of the decision, Banks said the tribunal's decision was "inspired".

"The approach of the tribunal was compassionate and very useful. People in trouble don't always need to be punished. Sometimes they need a sense of purpose and direction and a strategy for hope through wellness."

Banks, who is a well-known teetotaller, had been mentoring Rohde for about six months, he said.

"I have been given him some life coaching and have been very happy to do so because he is a remarkably talented young lawyer."

A New Zealand Law Society spokesman said he was unable to comment on whether it was rare for a lawyer to avoid suspension for drink-driving charges.

In a statement Law Society President Chris Moore said "Rohde's conduct was appalling and had to be firmly denounced".

"It is well recognised that lawyers have to maintain a very high standard of conduct, both when carrying out their profession and also as citizens of New Zealand," he said.

In her decision, Clarkson warned Rohde that another rehabilitative approach was unlikely to be repeated.

Rohde was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay costs of $3,806 to the New Zealand Law Society as well as reimburse hearing costs of $1,992.