Volunteer of the Month: Paddy Miller

​Volunteer of the Month: July 2017

Paddy Miller is a 1st year volunteer at the WCJP's Law Reform Team. To date, she has submitted on the Domestic Violence-Victims’ Protection Bill and the Marriage (Court Consent to Marriage of Minors) Amendment Bill. 

Law Reform Team leaders, Vivian Tan and Josiah Koh, have been extremely impressed with Paddy’s level of enthusiasm, commitment, and ability to write with a level of sincerity that speaks to the reader.

The Law Reform Team are proud to have Paddy as a volunteer with the leaders saying “her earnestness has inspired both of us and the other volunteers.”

"CJP has helped me gain so many new skills. My research and writing skills have improved and I have gained an insight into how the law-making process in New Zealand works."

Hear from Paddy below:
​
After attending the CJP launch early this year, I was convinced that the Law Reform team was the perfect place for me. I have a keen interest in politics and the law-making process, so the Research and Submissions sub-group seemed like the ideal place for me to get started.

In my opinion the key draw-card of the Research and Submissions group is the opportunity to submit to Select Committee. We are so privileged to live in a country like New Zealand where we have the ability to speak directly to the lawmakers and influence their decision-making process.

The highlight of my year was being part of the written submission regarding the Domestic Violence – Victim’s Protection Bill. The Bill would provide domestic violence victims with up to 10 days paid leave. I believe this is a practical, common sense way to be able to get victims back on their feet. The paid leave would assist victims to relocate, help with court-costs, and provide victims with the time to organise counselling appointments or alternative schooling for children involved.
 
The oral submission was the best part. I sat with my CJP colleagues, in front of a room of politicians and we spoke about our views on the Bill itself. After we spoke, the politicians questioned us on a few of the contentious issues, to which we replied with our thoughts. This experience was so empowering. It made me feel like I could make a difference and directly influence the law-making process.
 
CJP has helped me gain so many new skills. My research and writing skills have improved and I have gained an insight into how the law-making process in New Zealand works. I have also loved working in a team and I’ve gained some great new friends. I also have to mention that MP Jan Logie (the Domestic Violence Bill’s sponsor) now follows me on Instagram!
 
I would like to thank my amazing team leaders, Josiah and Vivian, for all of their tireless work that they put into running the Law Reform team. Finally, I would like to encourage anyone interested to get involved in CJP. The work I’ve done in the Law Reform team has been so rewarding and it is a wonderful place to learn more about important issues facing New Zealanders today. 

Check out Law Reform's other submissions to Parliament here!