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Distinguished Visiting Fellowship

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Background

In 1998 the Trustees of the New Zealand Law Foundation endowed a scholarship so that each of New Zealand's law schools should have an opportunity in turn to host a distinguished international scholar for up to three months.

Purpose

To support the wider objectives of the NZ Law Foundation, in particular:

  • To provide opportunities for the acquisition and diffusion of legal knowledge, and
  • To provide practical legal training for practitioners and law students.

Structure

Each law school will host the Fellowship in turn. The order will be:

  1. Victoria, University of Wellington
  2. University of Waikato
  3. University of Canterbury 
  4. University of Auckland 
  5. University of Otago 
  6. Auckland University of Technology

Obligations of the Host Law School

  1. Selection of the Distinguished Visiting Fellow
    The host law school will nominate both the discipline and the person who they recommend to be the recipient of the Fellowship.  To enhance the ability to attract pre-eminent persons, the host law school must begin its search not less than 18 months in advance of the proposed timing for the visit.

    When the initial choice has been made, the host law school will consult with the Foundation and the other law schools about their proposed selection to obtain final agreement on the appointment.  Consultation with the Foundation will be completed by 30 June in the year prior to each visit.

    After acceptance of the appointment, the host law school will consult with the Foundation and the other law schools about a proposed programme.  The host law school will determine the final format and focus of the programme and take responsibility for ensuring its commitments are successfully met.  However, the Foundation may give the host law school instructions about the form and content of the programme, if in its opinion the programme departs from the original intentions of the Fellowship. 
  2. Timing
    It is assumed that most Fellows will come from the Northern Hemisphere and therefore the most likely timing for the visit would be between the months of June and September.  However, the host law school, in consultation with the Fellow, will determine the timing of each visit. 

    The host law school will ensure that the timing of the visit is such that it provides the maximum opportunity for the Visiting Fellow to fully meet his or her obligations.
  3. Promotion of the Fellowship
    The host law school, with the co-operation of all other law schools, is to work with the Foundation to ensure that the publicity and promotional benefits of the scholarship are clearly determined and maximised for each Visiting Fellow.

    No other person or organisation shall co-sponsor any visit without the prior consent of the Foundation.

    When determining the format of the programme the host law school will allow reasonable time for the Visiting Fellow to undertake promotional work on behalf of the Foundation.
  4. Reporting
    At the conclusion of the Fellowship, the host law school will provide a full report on the programme, its effectiveness, particular successes and/or difficulties and suggestions for improvement.

    Within two months of the conclusion of the Fellowship, the host law school will provide a full accounting for the use of grant funds.

    The Foundation may at any time during the course of the Fellowship request a progress report from the host law school.

    The host law school must ensure the Visiting Fellow is aware of his or her obligation to deliver a full report to the Foundation on the conclusion of the Fellowship.

Obligations of the Distinguished Visiting Fellow

Ideally, the Distinguished Visiting Fellow will spend four to eight weeks in the host law school and (up to) a week in each of the other four law schools, but the final duration and timing of the visit will be agreed between the Fellow and the host law school, and must be approved by the Foundation.  Visits for periods of less than four weeks are subject to prior approval by the board of the Foundation.

The Distinguished Visiting Fellow is expected to participate fully in the life of the host law school.  This would entail giving some select lectures as well as staff and student seminars.  Any lectures given to students would be in the nature of casual lectures, since the Distinguished Visiting Fellow's visit is not designed to support the teaching programme of the host university.

In addition, the Distinguished Visiting Fellow is expected to participate in lectures and addresses to the public and the legal profession, and promotional activities required by the Law Foundation, e.g. media interviews. 

The Fellow must undertake to promote the Foundation wherever possible throughout the programme in a manner that positively promotes the work and profile of the Foundation.

Within one month of the conclusion of the Fellowship, the Visiting Fellow will provide a full, independent report on the programme undertaken, views on its effectiveness, details of particular successes and/or difficulties and suggestions for improvement.

Value of the Fellowship

The value of the Fellowship is $40,000 a year.  This is to be applied towards international travel costs, and travel and accommodation costs within New Zealand.  It is not envisaged that any salary would be paid.

The funding will be paid direct to the host law school which will make all necessary contractual and taxation arrangements with the Visiting Fellow.  No administrative costs will be charged or deducted from the amount paid.  At the end of the Fellowship the host law school will account in full to the Foundation, and any balance remaining will be repaid to the Foundation at the end of the visit.

Tenure

Only one Distinguished Visiting Fellow is to be appointed each year to ensure the prestige of the award is maintained and an appropriate level of commitment is obtained from the Visiting Fellow. 

It is expected the Fellow will visit for a period of time ranging between two to three months.  However visits of shorter duration may be approved by the Foundation under special circumstances.  Visits for less than four weeks are subject to prior approval by the board of the Foundation.

Suspension or Termination

The Foundation in consultation with the host law school may at any time suspend or terminate any Fellowship, if it is satisfied that the Visiting Fellow is not diligently pursuing the programme agreed to.

Ability to Review Arrangements

The Foundation in consultation with the Deans of the law schools may from time to time review and modify the arrangements for the Fellowship.

 

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