Assistant Crown Counsel Experiences
In April 2024, we asked some of our current ACCs to share their experiences working at Te Tari Ture o te Karauna. Here's what they wanted to share.
"I started at Crown Law in one of the Public Law teams of the Crown Legal Risk Group. I applied for a role at Crown Law because I have a passion for public law issues and a particular interest in advocacy and judicial review. And despite being at Crown Law only a short time, I have already had several opportunities to further my passions and interests.
I see working at Crown Law as a real privilege because of the work we are involved in and the colleagues that we work with. Crown Law is an inspiring place as a young lawyer because you are surrounded by talented lawyers, experienced lawyers, and subject matter experts in various fields. You also get to work on a wide range of legal issues that are interesting, topical, and important for Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a rare experience to read the news and think "my colleagues X and Y are working on that…" or to be working on that matter yourself."
- ACC, Crown Legal Risk Group
"I have been working at Crown Law since November 2022. I’m an Assistant Crown Counsel in the Criminal Team. It’s a super interesting and rewarding role.
The Criminal Team has a hugely varied range of work for junior counsel to work on. We work on all sorts of criminal appeals, many of which are in the media, write opinions to the Deputy Solicitor-General on a range of matters to do with criminal proceedings, and act as New Zealand’s Central Authority for mutual legal assistance, which is a curious blend of criminal matters and diplomacy.
A great day for me normally involves a court appearance. While preparing for court is normally quite stressful, the experience itself is very exciting. Working in the Criminal Team affords junior counsel various opportunities to appear before the senior courts. Court is a fast-paced and dynamic environment, and being involved in litigation sharpens your knowledge in the particular area of law that is before the court, as well as your ability to communicate ideas on your feet. I really enjoy it!
My highlights at Crown Law so far have been speaking in court, researching and preparing written submissions on some complex and uncertain areas of law and getting to work closely with senior counsel who are experts in their fields. Everyone at Crown Law is friendly and approachable, and many are very funny, so the people have certainly been a big highlight for me. I think the combination of fascinating work, a collaborative style of working and friendly and approachable seniors is really unique to Crown Law. The mentoring is excellent and, when combined with the various training opportunities, gives junior counsel a really strong start to their legal careers."
- ACC in the Criminal Law Group
"I’ve really enjoyed working at CLO so far, with my work highlight easily being the amazing people I get to work with every day. Everybody is friendly, hardworking, and willing to give up their time to help others despite their own busy schedules. CLO is filled with impressively knowledgeable people, and I’ve learned a lot just by watching and observing more experienced lawyers.
Since joining CLO I’ve been part of the Social Committee, the Asian Collective, and the LGBTea and Coffee Collective. I really appreciate that CLO allows the resources and space for rep groups like these to flourish. CLO also offers several learning opportunities, ranging from seminars and panel talks to mentoring opportunities and networking events. CLO genuinely cares about our personal growth and learning, which is one of my favourite things about the organisation. At the same time, CLO trusts everyone to manage their time and get their work done. I appreciate that this means we’re able to work flexibly both in hours and location."
- ACC in the Attorney-General Group