New Zealand Law Society - Awards and Prizes for New Zealand Lawyers
Achievement in the New Zealand legal profession is recognised by the award of a number of annual prizes and scholarships. This Practice Briefing lists the best-known prizes and scholarships which are awarded in New Zealand annually or where New Zealand lawyers are eligible.
To recognise members of the association who have made substantial contributions to the development, integrity and professionalism of the sport and sports law industry.
Award: Not specified.
Dates: The deadline for nominations is Friday, 1 September 2017. Awarded at the association’s annual conference dinner.
Entry requirements: Nominees must be current association members. Entries are by nomination.
Judging: Decided by the ANZSLA Board. An award is not necessarily made each year.
Further information: www.anzsla.com
Awarded for the best academic paper on a sports law topic by someone who has not presented a paper at the association conference.
Award: A trophy, return airfares for presentation and two nights accommodation, a year’s membership in ANZSLA.
Dates: Entrants must submit a written paper of 5,000 to 12,000 words by Friday, 1 September 2017 to ANZSLA ‘s Executive Manager via email to anzsla@anzsla.com
Judging: Judged by a three-person panel. The judges may decide not to make the Award.
Further information: www.anzsla.com
Awarded to the member rendering commendable community service in the field of sports law.
Award: A trophy and the right to nominate an appropriate recipient of a grant of NZ$2,000 or A$2,000.
Dates: Nominations are required by Friday, 1 September 2017.
Judging: Decided by the ANZSLA Board. An award is not necessarily made each year.
Eligibility: Nominees must be current association members.
Further information: www.anzsla.com
Award: One scholarship each year, each to the value of up to AU$3,000, (adjusted from time to time).
Dates: Applications will be accepted by 1 May in any year, and up until the time of the annual National Conference of ANZELA if a scholarship is still available for the year.
Entry requirements: Available for members who wish to attend official education law conferences, seminars and other approved presentations.
Judging: By selection panel.
Further information: www.anzela.edu.au/awards
Award: Not stated.
Dates: The submission of nominations for the first prize must be made by 1 September 2017. The award will be announced in December 2017.
Entry requirements: Eligible authors must be a current member of the ANZLHS.
Judging: By the current Executive of the ANZLHS, which comprises the President, Vice-President, Australian Treasurer, New Zealand Treasurer, Immediate Past President, Secretary and the Editor of Law&History.
Further information: www.aanzlhs.org/prizes-and-scholarships/anzlhs-annual-prize-in-legal-history
Three prizes are awarded for an essay on a legal topic of relevance to the energy and resource sector.
Award: First prize $3,000, second prize $2,000, third prize $1,000.
Dates: Will be announced soon, check the Energy Law website below.
Entry requirements: Applicants must have graduated with their first law degree within the past three years or have been undergraduate law students in the year of entry. Essays may be on any topic related to energy and resource law but prior approval from the association is required. The length is to be no more than 3,500 words and essays must be previously unpublished. Submission must be accompanied by a completed entry form.
Judging: No details.
Further information: www.energylaw.org.nz
Awarded for the best legal article published between 1 January and 31 December each year.
Award: The winner receives a prize of about $1,000, being the earnings from a fund established in 1973 to commemorate Henry Greathead Rex Mason (1885-1975). The prize is managed by the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Law Society, as trustee for the Honourable Rex Mason Trust.
Dates: Submissions for the prize (relating to articles published in the preceding year) open in early April and close near the end of June. Entries must be made on the official entry form and accompanied by a hard copy of the article.
Entry requirements: The article must have been published in a New Zealand legal publication between 1 January and 31 December in the specified year.
Judging: The prize is judged by a nominee of the Chief Justice, the Dean of Victoria University of Wellington Law School, and the Editor of the New Zealand Law Journal. The judges are required to be guided by five specified factors.
Further information: The Manager, Wellington branch, New Zealand Law Society, PO Box 494, Wellington 6140. wellington@lawsociety.org.nz
Dates: Awarded at the ILANZ Annual Conference, in May. Entries are by nomination, with nominations opening around March.
Judging: Judged by a three-person panel.
Further information: www.ilanz.org
Awarded to a lawyer who has made a valuable contribution to their organisation and to the legal profession through leadership and excellence in the provision of legal services aligned to the organisation’s strategic goals, effective team management (where appropriate) or management of external advisers, and innovation and best practice.
Award: A scholarship package with a value of $5,000 to be spent on development activities for them and/or their team.
Eligibility: All lawyers employed or engaged by public sector organisations in an in-house capacity and holding a current Law Society practising certificate.
Awarded to a lawyer who has made a valuable contribution to their organisation and to the legal profession through leadership and excellence in the provision of legal services aligned to the organisation’s strategic goals, effective team management (where appropriate) or management of external advisers, and innovation and best practice.
Award: A scholarship package with a value of $5,000 to be spent on development activities for them and/or their team.
Eligibility: All lawyers employed or engaged by organisations (including state owned enterprises and mixed ownership models) in an in-house capacity and holding a current Law Society practising certificate.
Awarded to a lawyer who has demonstrated their potential as a leading member of the in-house legal profession in New Zealand through excellence in the provision of legal services that have significantly contributed to their organisation’s performance, academic ability and the ability to develop knowledge of areas of law not previously practised by the nominee, and leadership potential.
Award: A scholarship package with a value of $5,000 to be spent on initiatives that will help them develop their career.
Eligibility: All lawyers employed or engaged by organisations in an in-house capacity and holding a current Law Society practising certificate. Nominees must have worked in an in-house counsel role for less than five years, and it should be no more than 10 years since their first date of admission as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand or their original country of admission.
Awarded to an in-house legal team that has made a valuable contribution to their organisation and the legal profession through leadership and excellent in the provision of legal services aligned to the organisation’s strategic goals, effective team management (where appropriate) or management of external advisers, innovation and best practice.
Award: A scholarship package with a value of $5,000 to be spent on development.
Eligibility: All legal teams employed or engaged by organisations in an in-house legal capacity and holding current Law Society practising certificates.
Awarded to an in-house lawyer who has made an outstanding contribution to the community beyond their “day job”, or to an in-house team.
Award: The winner will have $5,000 paid to their chosen cause.
Eligibility: All lawyers employed or engaged by organisations in an in-house capacity and holding a current Law Society practising certificate.
Awarded to an in-house lawyer or legal team that best demonstrates excellence in innovation in the delivery of in-house legal services.
Award: The winner receives a scholarship package with a value of $5,000 to be spent on initiatives that will help them develop their career.
Eligibility: All lawyers employed or engaged by organisations in an in-house capacity and holding a current Law Society practising certificate.
The Writing Awards 2016 will be announced at the Foundation’s Annual General Meeting in 2017.
Judging: The award is judged anonymously by a panel appointed by the Foundation’s Executive Council.
Further information: www.legalresearch.org.nz
This award is given for the best book published by a New Zealand-based author (or authors). It carries a prize of $2,000.
This award is given for the best article, essay or discrete book chapter published by a New Zealand-based author in 2016. It carries a prize of $1,500.
This is open to unpublished undergraduate students’ papers between 10,000 and 18,000 words. The paper must have been written for course credit at a New Zealand university. The paper must have been completed by the end of 2016, however, a paper completed during the summer period over 2016-2017 is also eligible provided it is submitted to the Foundation by the closing date. The award carries a prize of $1,000. Entries must be submitted through your university. Only five entries from each university will be accepted.
This is open to unpublished undergraduate Students papers between 10,000 and 18,000 words. The paper must have been written for course credit at a New Zealand university. The paper must have been completed by the end of 2016, however, a paper completed during the summer period over 2016-2017 is also eligible provided it is submitted to the Foundation by the closing date. The award carries a prize of $1,000.
Awards: The winner receives a trophy.
Dates: Nominations are required. The awards are held on 23 November in Auckland.
Eligibility: Awarded for deals closed between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017. There are further criteria for some awards, see below.
Further information: www.lawawards.co.nz
Judging: The award is judged on its New Zealand aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation.
Judging: The award is judged on its New Zealand aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation.
Judging: The award is judged on its New Zealand aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation. Has a deal value not exceeding US$100 million.
Judging: The award is judged on its New Zealand aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation.
Judging: The award is judged on international work carried out by New Zealand firms and according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation. Must have a significant international component.
This category is not open for nominations. Winners of the following deal awards will become finalists in this category.
The finalists will be revealed at the awards ceremony.
Eligibility: Awarded in two categories, 1) to firms which employ under 100 people on a full-time basis, and 2) more than 100 people on a full-time basis.
Judging: The quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of the team’s deal involvement.
Eligibility: Qualified lawyer not exceeding 35 years of age as at 31st March 2017 and who is permanently employed within the in-house legal function of a company or organisation operating in New Zealand.
Judging: The award is judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work.
Eligibility: Any in-house legal team in a banking, insurance or financial services company or organisation operating in New Zealand.
Judging: The award is judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work.
Eligibility: Any in-house legal team in a company or organisation operating in New Zealand.
Judging: The award is judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work. In-house teams that do not qualify for the Financial Services In House Team should be nominated in this category.
Eligibility: An individual permanently employed within the in-house legal function of a company or organisation operating in New Zealand.
Judging: The award is judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work.
Eligibility: Firms must be headquartered outside the central business districts of Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.
Judging: The award is judged on excellence in client service and leading expertise in advising across a range of practice areas.
Eligibility: Derives at least 50% of its revenue from a single practice area. Firms that do not qualify for the specialist firm categories (Employment Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Property & Construction and Insurance) should be nominated in this category.
Judging: The award is judged on excellence in client service and leading expertise in advising across a broad range of practice areas.
Eligibility: Firms with six to 24 partners.
Judging: The award is judged on excellence in client service and leading expertise in advising across a range of practice areas.
Eligibility: Firms with 25+ partners.
Judging: The award is judged on the ability to act on New Zealand’s largest deals and matters, and excellence in client service and leading expertise in advising across a broad range of practice areas.
Eligibility: Awarded to employment law (at least 50% of revenue from employment law matters), litigation and dispute resolution (at least 50% of revenue from litigation and dispute resolution matters), intellectual property (at least 50% of revenue from intellectual property law matters), property and construction (at least 50% of revenue from property and construction law matters), and insurance (at least 50% of revenue from insurance law matters).
Judging: The awards are judged on excellence in client service and specialist expertise.
Eligibility: Awarded in three categories for firms employing, 1) under 50 people; 2) between 51 and 100 people and 3) over 100 people, all on a full-time basis.
Judging: The award is judged on performance across aspects such as employee engagement and retention, diversity and inclusion, remuneration and benefits, training and development, leadership, reward and recognition and work-life balance.
Eligibility: Awarded to a member of the Resolution Institute or AMINZ, or both.
Judging: The award is judged on achievements and performance.
Eligibility: Qualified lawyer not exceeding 35 years or age as at 31st March 2017 and who is permanently employed within a law firm.
Judging: The award is judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work.
Eligibility: Awarded in two categories to a managing partner, CEO or similar of a New Zealand law firm with 1) under 100 people and 2) more than 100 people, employed on a full-time basis.
Judging: The award is judged on achievements and performance.
Awarded by the New Zealand Law Foundation for the young lawyer who shows the most promise of service to and through the legal profession.
Award: The winner receives $5,000.
Dates: Entries are by application and applications close on 2 October 2017.
Eligibility: Applications are open to any barrister and/or solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand who has been admitted during the period of three years ending on 31 August of the year of the award.
Judging: The winner will be the person adjudged as giving the most promise of service to and through the profession having regard to personal character, qualities of leadership as shown by achievement and service at school and at university, reliability, progress and enthusiasm displayed in practical training in preparation for the practice of law, academic attainments, and interest and participation in general activities.
Further information: www.lawfoundation.org.nz
Awarded by the Law Foundation to encourage post-graduate study and legal research at New Zealand universities.
Award: The scholarship is worth up to $10,000 each year for up to three years as a ‘top up’ to the award of an NZ University PhD Scholarship.
Dates: Applications are accepted twice a year. Applications close on 28 February and 31 August in each year.
Eligibility: The scholarship will be awarded to a doctoral candidate who will carry out research in a defined area of the law which is for the benefit of New Zealand and its legal system, and which encompasses the wider objectives of the Law Foundation.
Further Information: www.lawfoundation.org.nz
Awarded to an outstanding woman law graduate to assist with post-graduate study.
Award: Up to $20,000 for study in New Zealand, and up to $50,000 for study overseas.
Dates: Closing date for applications is 1 March. The award is normally announced in May or June.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, hold a New Zealand university degree (unless there are exceptional circumstances) and be accepted into a post-graduate course in law at a university which is acceptable to the selection committee.
Judging: Applications are managed by Universities New Zealand: http://www.universitiesnz.ac.nz/scholarships/ethelbenjamin
Further information: www.lawfoundation.org.nz
Awarded by the Law Foundation to assist study in New Zealand or overseas aimed at making a significant contribution to New Zealand’s law.
Award: The fellowship is worth up to $125,000 a year.
Dates: The closing date for applications is 1 September each year.
Eligibility: The subject matter to be researched must be of substantial public importance, and should be of such significance that the results of the research might be expected to lead to the reform or betterment of the laws of New Zealand. The research findings must be published. The award is open to persons who have demonstrated high ability in their chosen field and the ability to carry out the nominated research.
Eligibility is not confined to members of any one profession or occupation, and the fellowship is open to legal practitioners, academics, judges, government officials and other persons with the required abilities.
Further information: www.lawfoundation.org.nz
Two prizes for an essay on an approved topic in construction law of no more than 5,000 words.
Award: First prize $3,000; runner-up $1,500.
Dates: Closed for the 2017 Award.
Eligibility: New Zealand residents who are either undergraduate students at a New Zealand tertiary institution or have graduated from a New Zealand tertiary institution with their first degree or diploma within the last three years.
Further information: www.constructionlaw.org.nz
Awarded to acknowledge practitioner members of the Institute recognised by their peers as having contributed significantly to the growth and development of dispute resolution.
Award: The winners receive a Certificate of Recognition. Nominations are required.
Eligibility: Membership of Resolution Institute.
Judging: The Awards Panel assesses nominees on the basis of one of six specified criteria.
Further information: www.resolution.institute
Presented annually by the Resolution Institute Board to a person or persons who has in the previous 12 months contributed towards the peaceful resolution of conflict in the best interests of the community.
Award: The winner receives a trophy.
Eligibility: Membership of the Resolution Institute.
Judging: The award is made by the Board of the Resolution Institute.
Further information: www.resolution.institute
Awarded for projects which make a significant contribution to the development of best practice and the implementation of the Resource Management Act’s purpose and principles.
Award: Details unknown.
Dates: Nominations are required by 1 August 2017. The award is presented at the RMLA Annual Conference dinner.
Eligibility: The majority of the team is expected to be RMLA members and nominees should be appropriately qualified or recognised professionals within their field.
Judging: Delegated to a RMLA Awards Sub-Committee of the National Committee.
Further information: www.rmla.org.nz
Awarded for technical, statutory or other resource management planning documents which make a significant contribution to the development of the practice of resource management and/or exhibit innovation and excellence in the planning or technical approach(es) used.
Award: Details unknown.
Dates: Nominations are required by 1 August 2017. The award is presented at the RMLA Annual Conference dinner.
Eligibility: The majority of the team is expected to be RMLA members and nominees should be appropriately qualified or recognised professionals within their field.
Judging: Delegated to a RMLA Awards Sub-Committee of the National Committee.
Further information: www.rmla.org.nz
Awarded for publications which enable a better or more complete understanding of resource management law, theory and practice by the resource management community or interested general public.
Award: Details unknown.
Dates: Nominations are required by 1 August 2017. The award is presented at the RMLA Annual Conference dinner.
Eligibility: The majority of the team is expected to be RMLA members and nominees should be appropriately qualified or recognised professionals within their field.
Judging: Delegated to a RMLA Awards Sub-Committee of the National Committee.
Further information: www.rmla.org.nz
Awarded for outstanding contributions to resource management.
Award: Details unknown.
Dates: Nominations are required by 1 August 2017. It is not necessary to make an award each year.
Eligibility: Nominees must be RMLA members and must not have been members of the National Committee within two years of the date of nomination. A recipient may receive the honour only once.
Further information: www.rmla.org.nz
To recognise an individual’s outstanding services to the RMLA profession over the course of the individual’s lifetime career. It would be expected there would be many years it would not be awarded.
Award: Details unknown.
Dates: Nominations are required by a letter, along with at least three letters of recommendation from current RMLA members.
Eligibility: The person should be nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise in, and contribution, to the theory and practice of resource management in New Zealand over a prolonged period (in most cases, the recipient’s lifetime career).
Further information: www.rmla.org.nz
This award was set up in 1990 by the Loman Friedlander Trust to commemorate a family member’s strong interest in the area of intellectual property law.
Award: There is one award with a prize of $1,000.
Dates: Closing date of applications is 30 November each year.
Entry requirements: Open to any tertiary student who is a New Zealand resident. The award is made for the best original paper of between 5,000 and 10,000 words on any subject within the area of intellectual property law (patents, trade marks, registered designs, copyright). The award is only made if an entry of sufficient standard is received.
Judging: No details.
Further information: http://www.nzipa.org.nz/
The Australian and New Zealand Law and History Society (ANZLHS) has established an award to honour the memory and continue the work of Tracey Banivanua-Mar. The award will be for the best article published in the society’s journal law&history over the previous two calendar years and that engages theoretically with the themes of race and colonialism.
Award: There is one award with a prize of $1,000.
Further information: https://anzlhs.org/journal/