Law Foundation Scholarships
The Foundation is now is recess, but for the foreseeable future, both the Ethel Benjamin Scholarship and the Cleary Memorial Prize will continue to be awarded during our recess period; all others have ceased.
The Foundation expects to announce a new award for socio-legal research in 2023.
Prior to our recess, six awards of legal scholarships, prizes and fellowships were presented annually to outstanding legal scholars who showed considerable potential to improve the New Zealand legal system through their work. Now only the Ethel Benjamin Scholarship and the Cleary Memorial Prize are still being offered. All others have closed.
Over the years awards have been made to established legal academics and legal professionals, young barristers and solicitors, post-graduate and doctoral students, and distinguished international legal experts. The legal research scholarship programme provided opportunities for individuals of proven ability to undertake advanced research and study. It also supported the sharing of expert legal knowledge. Our Shadow Report Award was introduced to assist NGO’s or individuals interested in human rights issues.
Details of all recipients are listed below.
About our six Awards:
International Research Fellowship – ClosedTe Karahipi Rangahau ā Taiao This Scholarship is no longer offered and information is provided for historic purposes only.This is New Zealand’s premier legal research award. Valued at up to $125,000, this fellowship is awarded annually to enable an individual of outstanding ability to undertake legal research that will make a significant contribution to New Zealand. Recipients |
2019 Recipient Sue Barker |
Doctoral Scholarship – ClosedThis Scholarship is no longer offered and information is provided for historic purposes only.The scholarship was awarded to a doctoral candidate to carry out research in a defined area of the law for the benefit of New Zealand and its legal system. The inaugural award of this scholarship was made in 2011 but then withdrawn. In 2016 it was reviewed and was offered again twice a year until February 2019 under different terms of reference as a ‘top up’ to the award of an NZ University PhD Scholarship. Recipients |
2018 Recipient Claire Browning
2018 Recipient Michael Morrison |
Ethel Benjamin Scholarship – Applications still being accepted annually!This law scholarship honours Ethel Benjamin, New Zealand’s first woman barrister and solicitor, who was admitted to the bar in 1897. It is awarded annually to outstanding New Zealand women law graduates to assist with their post-graduate law study, and is valued at up to $30,000 each year. This scholarship will continue to be offered throughout the period the Law Foundation is in recess. Applications close on 1st March each year. How to apply Previous recipients |
2024 Recipients
Maddy Nash
Hannah Yang |
Cleary Memorial Prize – Applications still being accepted annually!The Cleary Memorial Prize is awarded in memory of Sir Timothy Cleary, past President of both the Wellington District and New Zealand Law Societies and a Judge of the Court of Appeal. This prize, worth $5,000, is awarded annually to a young barrister or solicitor who shows the most future promise in the legal profession. This Prize will continue to be offered throughout the period the Law Foundation is in recess. Applications close 5pm 1st September each year. How to apply Previous Recipients |
2024 Recipient Rhianna Morar |
Distinguished Visiting FellowshipThis fellowship enables law schools to take turns at hosting a distinguished international legal scholar of their choice, for up to two months each year. Selection is by invitation from the law school hosting the Distinguished Visiting Fellow, in conjunction with the Law Foundation. 2020 was the last year this Fellowship was offered. Previous Distinguished Visiting FellowsMore about the Fellowship |
2020 Recipient Professor Liz Fisher |
Shadow Report Award – ClosedThis award focuses on human rights issues. It supports a person or body to prepare shadow reports and/or attend the presentation of these reports to the United Nations monitoring bodies for human rights treaties. It is valued at $10,000, annually. This Scholarship is no longer offered and information is provided for historic purposes only.Recipients |
2017 Recipient: Human Rights Foundation of Aotearoa New Zealand |
