UQ law students have been awarded for their exceptional academic performance, in areas from environmental law to criminal procedure.
Special guest, the Chief Justice of Queensland Paul de Jersey AC, presented many of the awards at the TC Beirne School of Law Awards Ceremony at Customs House, held on May 16.
UQ’s Dean of Law, Professor Gerard Carney, said the event was an opportunity to celebrate the efforts and success of the school’s highest achieving students in 2011.
“This is a special night for the law school, where the excellence of our students is formally acknowledged,” Professor Carney said.
“The law prize is a distinction which its recipient proudly declares on their CV forever.”
From the 36 awards, many were generously donated by law firms and individuals, and Professor Carney thanked donors for making such awards possible.
Law student Andrea Noble was awarded the Maria De Donatis Memorial Prize, an award which encourages diversity in the legal profession. Freeda Stevenson, a partner at Barry Nilsson Lawyers, presented it.
“It is important, particularly when the recipient is female, for them to know that other women have paved the way in areas of practice which tended to be dominated by male practitioners,” Ms Stevenson said.
Paul McCowan, who donated the McInnes Wilson Lawyers Prize in Administrative and Public Law, said such recognition of student effort raised the standard of graduates.
“An award recipient gains the kudos for their special efforts, which stands out in the eyes of prospective employers and also within the legal profession generally."
Award winner Tegan Stockdale, who won the Dr MHM Kidwai Memorial Prize said sponsorship played an important role in inspiring excellence.
“It shows the level of excellence that can be attained when you truly strive for something, while acting as a reminder of the level of achievement that you are capable of in the future.”
The event began with the presentation of its prestigious UQ Law Mentor of the Year Award to Brisbane barrister Dan Ryan of Fullagar Chambers.
More than 100 guests attended, including law prize sponsors, legal professionals, and family and friends of the award-winning students.
2011 Awards:
The Allens Prize for Overall Excellence: Mr Alexander Molloy
The Allens Prize in Company Law: Ms Laura Fitzgerald
The Allan Robb Memorial Prize: Ms Dayle Cranswick
The Corrs Chambers Westgarth Prizes: Prize 1: Ms Carly Donovan
The Dr MHM Kidwai Memorial Prize: Ms Tegan Stockdale
The Family Law Practitioners' Association Qld Prize in Family Law: Ms Edith Graveson
The Walter Harrison Prizes: Prize 1: Ms Dayle Cranswick
The Andrea Bowler Memorial Prize for Family Law: Miss Alexandra Doney
The Tax Institute Prizes in Law: Prize 1: Miss Alexandra Doney. Prize 3: Mr Travis Dosser
The Ross Anderson Memorial Prize: Ms Emma Burrell
The Kay Young Memorial Prize: Ms Desiree Leong
The Maria De Donatis Memorial Prize in Corporate Law: Ms Andrea Noble
The Virgil Power Prize: Mr Joseph O'Shea
The Minter Ellison Prize in Law: Mr Christopher Ash
The John Hughes Wilkinson Memorial Prize in Law: Mr Christopher Ash
The Freehills Prize in Law: Mr Theodore Denovan
The McCullough Robertson Prizes
Prize 1: Mr Heath Manning. Prize 2: Multiple winners: Ms Doris Oachis
Prize 2: Multiple winners: Ms Shellena Chen
The R.J. Bulley 1960 Prize: Ms Sarah-Jane Dobson
Queensland Environmental Law Association Prize in Environmental Law: Ms Nicole Jones
The University of Queensland Law Society Medal for the Most Outstanding Graduate of the Year: Miss Elizabeth Mathews
The Howden Saggers Lawyers Prize in Criminal Procedure: Ms Abbey Mawby
The McInnes Wilson Lawyers Prize in Administrative and Public Law: Mr Heath Manning
The MacGillivrays Prize for the Law of Remedies: Multiple Winners: Ms Laura Macleod
Multiple Winners: Ms Elle Parslow
The Queensland Environmental Law Association Prize in Planning Law: Ms Georgina Cleveland
Owen Fletcher Award: Ms Alison Christou
Una Prentice Award: Miss Elizabeth Mathews
Scholarships were also awarded to students based on academic merit, the requirement for financial assistance and an expressed interest in the law:
TC Beirne School of Law Scholarship (LLB): Mr Bryton Chin TC Beirne School of Law Scholarship (LLB): Ms Rachele Edson TC Beirne School of Law Scholarship (LLB): Mr Samuel Hickey TC Beirne School of Law Scholarship (LLB): Miss Kara Jones TC Beirne School of Law Scholarship (LLM): Ms Phyllis Ngugi
Law School Valedictorian July 2011: Mr Isuru Devendra
Media: Professor Gerard Carney, UQ Dean of Law (07 3365 2361, g.carney@law.uq.edu.au) or Melissa Reynolds, School of Law Marketing (07 3365 2523, m.reynolds@law.uq.edu.au)
