DLA Piper, Pfizer Inc. deliver training in legal writing and analysis to Zambian law students

New Perimeter, DLA Piper's nonprofit affiliate that provides long-term pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world, recently collaborated with Pfizer Inc. to deliver a training to approximately 70 LL.M. students at the University of Zambia School of Law (UNZA).

From August 2-5, DLA Piper lawyers and Pfizer in-house counsel from the United States, South Africa, and the United Kingdom delivered a four-day virtual seminar to students enrolled in an LL.M. program focused on practical lawyering skills. The training involved a combination of recorded online lectures, offline written exercises, and interactive Zoom sessions, covering legal drafting and analysis.

In the past decade, New Perimeter has trained over 600 undergraduate law students at UNZA. This is the second year that New Perimeter has provided training to UNZA graduate students, including government lawyers, criminal lawyers, commercial lawyers, and magistrates.

UNZA Law School Dean Chuma Himonga shared, “This one-week legal drafting and analysis training for our LL.M. programme students feeds into the practical component of the LL.M. programme and contributes to the teaching and honing of the relevant skills. Additionally, the students gain rich international experience from interacting with DLA Piper and Pfizer attorneys from different parts of the world and legal professional backgrounds."

“We’re so grateful to have the privilege of partnering with Pfizer for a second year to collaborate with another focused and skilled group of UNZA graduate students,” said DLA Piper Pro Bono Counsel Crystal Doyle. “It was a truly rewarding experience to work, exchange ideas and make connections with such a highly dedicated and driven group of students.”

“The course was an incredible opportunity for the learners, instructors and organizers to connect, learn and inspire each other,” shared Pfizer Country Compliance Lead for southern Africa Mayuri Naidoo. “I really hope that we see more of these types of courses to continue building what I believe is, the noblest of professions.”

The DLA Piper team that participated in the remote trainings included of counsel Ileana Blanco (Houston); associate Linzi Penman (Edinburgh); attorney Ossie Lynn Ravid (Palo Alto); partner Jayne Anderson Risk (Philadelphia); associate Ryan Sullivan (Austin) and counsel Tracey Gann Turner (Baltimore). The Pfizer team included Caitlin Carr Bottomley (Philadelphia), Karen Day (New York), Caroline Adrienne Flotron (Philadelphia), Jennifer Macauley (New York), Mayuri Naidoo (Johannesburg) and Vinasen Pillay (Johannesburg). Pro bono counsel Crystal Doyle (Chicago) managed the project.