Te Pae Tawhiti Postgraduate Scholarship for Daniel Kirby
Daniel is pursuing a Masters in Law at the University of Cambridge. His study is focused on Criminal Law, Human Rights and Jurisprudence.
Borrin Foundation Te Pae Tawhiti Postgraduate Scholarship
About Daniel
Daniel grew up in Nelson, where he attended Nayland College and worked at Mitre 10. He has since become a proud Cantabrian, completing his LLB with first-class honours at the University of Canterbury in 2020.
After leaving University, Daniel worked as a Judges’ Clerk at the Christchurch High Court for Justice Doogue, Justice Mander and Associate Judge Lester. While clerking Daniel tutored the Law of Torts at the University of Canterbury. Clerking was a formative experience for Daniel. Exposure to the cycles of disadvantage that underpin New Zealand’s criminal justice system inspired him to pursue a career in the criminal law.
Daniel commenced practice as a junior barrister employed by James Rapley KC and Kerry Cook at Bridgeside Chambers. There he had the opportunity to assist as junior counsel in High Court jury trials and appeals to the Court of Appeal, as well as representing criminal defendants, many of them legally aided, in the District Court and in appeals to the High Court.
What Daniel is studying
Daniel’s scholarship will be used to support his studies towards a Master of Law (LLM) at Cambridge University. He is completing courses in Criminal Justice and Human Rights Law, Jurisprudence, Legislation and Economics of Law and Regulation. Through these courses, Daniel hopes to deepen his theoretical understanding of law and enhance his ability to pose academically rigorous solutions to legal problems.
Daniel’s distant horizon is contributing to maintenance and development of New Zealand’s criminal justice system both by practising within it and academically evaluating it. Daniel sees particular potential in approaching routine criminal justice issues from a human rights lens, something he tried to do in practice.
Scholarship amount
$20,000
“I tautoko the Borrin Foundation’s vision, so it is a particular privilege to receive the Foundation’s support. I take on the responsibly of contributing, in my own little way, to making the Foundation’s vision a reality for New Zealand.”