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\nSeamus Woods is the 2014 winner of the New Zealand Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize. Not only is he a top academic achiever, he also has an impressive background in community service; to his law school and fellow students, and the wider community.<\/p>\n
In 2012 Mr Woods was winner of the New Zealand Law Society Canterbury-Westland branch gold medal in law; an award that is presented annually for the top student graduating with an LLB from Canterbury University.<\/p>\n
Four years earlier, he won the University Prize for the highest achieving first year M\u0101ori student across all schools and departments at Canterbury University.<\/p>\n
While at university, Mr Woods was President of both the New Zealand Law Students’ Association (NZLSA) and the Canterbury Law Students’ Association (LAWSOC).<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes, he established and ran \u2012 through LAWSOC \u2012 a tutorial programme for compulsory law subjects when the law school was unable to do so, owing to a lack of facilities. While at University he also helped co-ordinate and participated in a Salvation Army programme feeding homeless people and sex workers in Christchurch, and was a regular volunteer caseworker at Community Law.<\/p>\n
As NZLSA President, he oversaw the introduction of measures to address the prevalence of mental health difficulties among law students.<\/p>\n
Mr Woods graduated with an LLB (First Class Honours) and a BSc in biochemistry and was admitted in December 2013. Mr Woods received 13 top scholar prizes in Law during his studies.<\/p>\n
A judge’s clerk for Justice Ellen France at the Court of Appeal, he will join Luke Cunningham Clere as a junior Crown prosecutor next year.<\/p>\n
The former Paraparaumu College Dux plans to pursue a career primarily in litigation.<\/p>\n
“I aspire to be a general barrister because I am yet to encounter an area of law I do not enjoy, and I think conducting court work would be stimulating and enjoyable,” he says.<\/p>\n
The Cleary Prize honours the memory of Sir Timothy Cleary, past President of the Wellington District and New Zealand Law Societies and a Court of Appeal Judge until his death in 1962. It recognises the example Sir Timothy’s own life set for young people entering the profession.<\/p>\n
This is given to a young barrister or solicitor who shows outstanding future promise in the legal profession.<\/em> Seamus Woods is the 2014 winner of the New Zealand Law Foundation Cleary Memorial Prize. Not only is he a top academic achiever, he also has an impressive background in community service; to his law school and fellow students, and … Continue reading
\nPrevious winners<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"