Interns from DLA Piper's global scholarship programme visit New Zealand

Global firm DLA Piper has welcomed two interns from its global scholarship programme to New Zealand this month.

Felix Weape and Hariton Kasibolo, both from the Solomon Islands, will spend time at the firm’s offices in Auckland and Wellington. They have already been mentored by senior DLA Piper lawyers as part of a two-year internship while studying law at the University of the South Pacific.

"Their visit will let them experience a corporate environment and optimise their job searches when they graduate,” said Laura Scampion, partner at DLA Piper. “Felix and Hariton will shadow our partners and legal teams and be tutored in continuing legal education (CLE) in ethics and dispute resolution.”

According to Scampion, Weape and Kasibolo will also have an opportunity to work with pro bono clients during their internship. “There are strong pro bono interests among the young men and women studying law in their home nations, and while here, Felix and Hariton will meet some of our pro bono clients to gain better understandings of those relationships,” said Scampion.

DLA Piper’s global scholarship programme aims to advance the legal profession in less developed regions. The programme has seen partners and senior lawyers from both New Zealand and Australia spend time at the University of the South Pacific with students from the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji.