[2] Her doctoral thesis investigated parliamentary careers and cabinet selection in New Zealand.
From 2010-2012 McLeay was a Visiting Senior Research Fellow, at the Victoria University of Wellington's School of Law.
As of 2019, McLeay is an Emeritus Professor and is currently researching the politics of prisoners' voting rights.
[5][6][7] In both instances, McLeay and the constitutional experts were concerned about executive overreach, and the diminishing role of Parliamentary conventions.
In addition to the above, McLeay has submitted evidence to the House of Representatives on both the 2010 Electoral (Finance Reform and Advance Voting) Bill and the 2011 review of the Parliamentary Standing Orders.