Australian criminal law academic Bernadette McSherry has been awarded the inaugural Kayes Fletcher Walker visiting scholar award in conjunction with AUT Law School.

The scholarship, sponsored by the Manuaku Crown Solicitor and South Auckland law firm, aims to support an annual visit by an internationally recognised academic working in the areas of criminal law and criminal justice.

Professor McSherry is the foundation director of the Melbourne Social Equity Institute and Adjunct Professor of Law at the Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne and the Faculty of Law, Monash University.

She has published widely in the fields of mental health law and criminal law.