Wellington in-house lawyer Tania Warburton – the inaugural winner of the research scholarship established by the Corporate Lawyers Association of New Zealand (CLANZ) – is heading to Harvard University Law School and London to examine legal services to the Crown.
Ms Warburton, who is the Deputy Chief Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Justice, received $10,000 through the scholarship, which enables a New Zealand in-house lawyer or post-graduate law student to undertake research directly relevant to the practice of in-house law in New Zealand, and to publish that research.
Ms Warburton’s winning research proposal focuses on the delivery of government in-house legal services, examining recent changes in the New Zealand context, together with an international comparison of in-house models.
The award will allow her to attend Harvard Law School’s Leadership in Corporate Counsel programme and to spend time in the Treasury Solicitor’s Office in London, where she will compare New Zealand’s government in-house counsel model with its British equivalent.
Ms Warburton says by considering the similarities and differences of these models, she hopes her research will produce some valuable insights to support the Government Legal Network in its work.
“It’s a great opportunity to look at what is happening internationally and whether and how we can apply those lessons in a local context. The aim of my research is to support the Government Legal Network’s role of continual improvement in the quality and value of legal services provided to the Crown.”
Ms Warburton, a graduate of Victoria University, says she is looking forward to the opportunity to learn from her international counterparts.
“Harvard Law School is one of the top law schools and the opportunity to go there is really exciting. Having access to international speakers and presenters and meeting Chief Legal Advisors from both public and private sectors around the world is a fantastic opportunity,” she says.
Ms Warburton’s role at the Ministry of Justice involves a mix of advisory and management responsibilities, advising the Minister and business units within the Ministry as well as managing the legal team.
The research is expected to be completed by the end of this year.