SCHOLARSHIPS
One of the key programmes supported by the UQLA is a scholarship programme for financially disadvantaged students.
There is a real need for these scholarships. The Law School attracts its undergraduates from a broad range of communities across the State. Many of these students do not have the financial means to support their study, particularly if living away from home. Even with government support and earnings from part-time work, many students still struggle to meet even modest costs of living. The funding gap that needs to be bridged is often quite modest - $3000-5000 per annum.
To support these students, the UQLA has being working closely with the Law School to develop an effective scholarship programme for students in financial need.
The key features of the UQLA Scholarships are that:
each scholarship has been established, in perpetuity, through a capital endowment of $100,000. These funds have been primarily contributed by the donations of UQLA members, with substantial support from the University.
these endowment funds are held and invested by the University, with a view to generating a base scholarship payment of $3000-5000 annually. These payments are augmented, where necessary, by further funds donated by the UQLA and its members.
each scholarship is named in honour of a member of the Law School community who has made a significant contribution to the Law School or the wider community.
the scholarships are only available for domestic undergraduate law students and are only awarded for one year at a time.
the key criterion is financial need, although consideration is also given to each student’s academic, leadership, cultural, sporting or community service achievements.
each scholarship is awarded after a careful process of assessment and interview, by a panel comprising experienced academic staff of the Law School and a representative of the UQLA.
Since the UQLA Scholarship programme was established, twelve of these scholarships have been established. It is hoped that this number can be expanded to 30 in the longer term.
The scholarships currently comprise:
Brennan Scholarship – named in honour of the Law School’s second Justice of the High Court and Chief Justice, Sir Gerard Brennan AC QBE QC.
Bryce Scholarship – named in honour of the former Governor of Queensland and Governor-General of Australia, Dame Quentin Bryce AO CVO.
Derrington Scholarship – named in honour of Justice Des Derrington, Justice Roger Derrington and Justice Sarah Derrington.
Gibbs Scholarship – named in honour of the Law School’s first Justice of the High Court of Australia and Chief Justice, the Right Honourable Sir Harry Talbot Gibbs.
Holmes Scholarship – named in honour of the first female Chief Justice of Queensland, the Honourable Catherine Holmes AC.
Keane Scholarship – named in honour of the Honourable Justice Patrick Keane AC of the High Court of Australia, who has also served as Solicitor-General for Queensland, a judge of the Queensland Court of Appeal and as Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia.
McMurdo Scholarship – named in honour of the first female President of the Queensland Court of Appeal, Justice Margaret McMurdo AC.
Muir Scholarship – which was established by the family of Justice John Muir, who was formerly a justice of the Queensland Court of Appeal and one of Queensland’s most respected commercial judges.
Prentice Scholarship – named in honour of the Law School’s first graduate, Una Prentice.
Story Scholarship – named in honour of a leading corporate lawyer and former Chancellor of the University, John Story AO.
White Scholarship – named in honour of two influential supporters of the Law School, Justice Margaret White AO and Dr Michael White OAM QC.
Williams Scholarship – named in honour of a Judge of the Queensland Court of Appeal who served as the first President of the UQ Law Graduates Association, Justice Glen Williams AO.
Information about how to contribute to the UQLA Scholarship Fund is available on the UQ website here.
