Careers with PCO
Profiles
Julie Melville
Parliamentary Counsel
2 years in a commercial law firm in England, drafter since 1986.
My first exposure to drafting law as a career was reading a Civil Service pamphlet about it when I was in the UK. That planted the idea in my mind. When I eventually arrived in Wellington it seemed logical to consider it as a possible career option.
"You get very close to governmental processes and see how the decisions that affect this country's future are made"
I think you have to be a particular sort of person to succeed in the job. I had always enjoyed drafting large commercial contracts and the attention to detail that this required. But a Parliamentary Counsel also needs a creative streak to devise effective structures and patterns for each draft. And actually steering drafts through the process of discussion and debate with Government departments and through the Select Committee needs drive, commitment, and vision. You get very close to governmental processes and see how the decisions that affect this country's future are made.
The job is wide-ranging. For example, Acts I've drafted include the Child Support Act 1991 and the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act 1994. You have to remain politically neutral when drafting the law, but you do get to the end of some projects - like the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 - and feel you have made a positive social impact.
Successful drafting depends on teamwork both within and outside the Office, but you still retain a lot of independence in how you choose to work. A great deal of attention is given to personal development here. The job has a recognised career structure, so as you develop you can take on management projects and training in addition to your drafting role.
Geoff Lawn
Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Team Leader
University Junior Lecturer, 5 years as legal adviser in Law Reform Division of Department of Justice, drafter since 1985.
As Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel, I am part of a small team that oversees the management of the Office and sets its strategic direction. We aim to provide a high quality service - and that means high quality technology, training, and professional development.
I am the team leader of 1 of the 2 drafting groups. This involves allocating work to the team members, monitoring workloads, prioritising, and planning. I also have special responsibility for managing the team's client relationships with Government departments.
"We aim to provide a high quality service - and that means high quality technology, training, and professional development"
I have always had an interest in the application of technology in the drafting process. We provide our drafters with high quality technology, including the latest computer equipment, electronic databases of legislation, and internet access. Every drafter has a desktop PC and is able to produce drafts using a custom-made word processing system that is connected electronically to the Government-contracted printer. We put a lot of effort into training our drafters to use this technology as efficiently as possible.
One of the key strategies of the Office is to strengthen the drafting resources available to us, in order to provide a better and more responsive service to our clients. We have worked hard to develop a comprehensive and co-ordinated training programme for new counsel.
We also recognise the need to ensure the professional development of our staff, both to enhance the quality of the work of the Office and to ensure the retention of well-qualified staff. Investment in personal development is something we consider essential, and is ongoing throughout a Parliamentary Counsel's career. We want to encourage each individual to take on the responsibilities most suited to their skills and abilities.
Jacqueline Derby
Parliamentary Counsel
16 months in a major law firm, 18 months as legal adviser in Law reform Division of Ministry of Justice, drafter since 1991.
I had always enjoyed the drafting side of the other jobs that I had done. I like working out the structure, converting ideas into words and the process of refining the draft.
The creative challenge of a Parliamentary Counsel is to make legislation clear and legally effective. Our role is about understanding new policy and working with Government departments to make that policy a legal reality.
I enjoy working in Government. It encompasses such variety. I have worked on the Customs and Excise Act 1996, the International War Crimes Tribunals Act 1995, the Extradition Act 1999 and on transport legislation, which I find a particularly interesting area.
"An individual working style is possible here, so you can and you should put your stamp on how you operate"
An individual working style is possible here, so you can and you should put your stamp on how you operate. It's a great physical environment too. If you're interested in legislative work, you can't beat the knowledge you find here.
You are encouraged to drive your own personal development and identify the areas where you want to improve. I am also responsible for training 2 others in the Office. There is a constant exchange of knowledge and ideas which I value.