Prizes and Awards for law students
Many prizes are automatically awarded to students on the basis of the greatest proficiency in a particular course or courses, and students are not required to submit an application. However, the Law School also offers a number of prizes that require students to submit an application. Please read the requirements and submit an application by the closing date for the award.
Awards assessed on application
| Prize | Description | Award/Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| The Randal Dennings Award | Graduating student that has participated in at least one Pro Bono activity. | $500 towards a national conference; inscription on the Pro Bono trophy |
| The UQLS Medal for Outstanding Achievement Est. in 2000 and maintained by an annual donation from the UQLS. | Best overall performance in the selection criteria. | Cast medal; inscription on honour board |
| Owen Fletcher Research Fund | This award recognises the best publication or conference paper published in a refereed academic journal or presented at a conference. | Students enrolled as full-time candidates for the degree of Master of Laws or the degree of Doctor of Philosophy following a program of advanced study and research in law. |
| UQ Law HDR Excellence Award | This award recognises an outstanding research output by an HDR student. The recipient is announced during Research Week in September. | Students enrolled as full-time candidates for the degree of Master of Laws or a Higher Degree by Research. |
Automatic consideration
| Prize | Requirements | Award |
|---|---|---|
| The Allan Robb Memorial Prize Est. in 1991 in memory of Allan Robb, an honours graduate of the University in Law and Arts & maintained by a gift of approx. $11,500 from the Trustees of the Allan Robb Memorial Fund. | Highest marks in the first attempt at the course entitled Trusts and Equity II. | Cash prize |
| The Ashurst Prize in Labour Law Est. in 2013 and maintained by an annual gift from Ashurst. | Highest marks in the first attempt at the non-examination assessment in Labour Law. | $500 |
| The Corrs Chambers Westgarth Prize in Civil Procedure Est. in 2017 and supported by an annual gift from Corrs Chambers Westgarth). | Highest overall mark for the first attempt in Civil Dispute Resolution. | $1,000 |
| The David Leeder Davies Prize in Competition Law (TBA) Est. in 1992 and maintained by the income from a gift of $8,000 from the family and friends of the late Mr David Leeder Davies. | Highest mark in the first attempt at Competition Law. | Law Books (it is anticipated that recipients utilise the funds according to the wishes of the donors) |
| The Dentons Prize in Corporate Law Est. in 2022 and maintained by an annual gift from Dentons. | Highest overall mark in the first attempt at the course Corporate Law. | $2,000 and an internship opportunity |
| The Dr M.H.M. Kidwai Memorial Prize Est. in 1979 as a memorial to the late Dr M.H.M. Kidwai and maintained by a fund subscribes by his former colleagues, students and friends. | Highest overall mark in the first attempt at the course entitled Administrative Law. | Cash for the purchase of books |
| The Gitanjali Bajaj Prize in Public International Law Est. in 2018 and maintained by an annual gift from Gitanjali Bajaj | Best performance on the first attempt in the course entitled Public International Law. | $1,500 |
| The Herbert Smith Freehills Prize in Law Est. in 1993 and maintained by an annual gift from Herbert Smith Freehills. | Highest overall mark in the first attempt at the courses entitled Law of Contact I & Law of Contact II. | $2,000 |
| The Janine McMaster-Kirkwood Prize in Income Tax Law Est. in 2015 and maintained by an annual gift from the Kirkwood Family | Best performance in the first attempt at Income Tax Law in each semester. | $750 for each semester |
| The John Hughes Wilkinson Memorial Prize in Law Est. in 1963 by a bequest of approx. $8,000 under the will of Professor Herbert John Wilkinson, in memory of his son John Hughes Wilkinson. | LLB or LLB(Hons) students - Highest results in law courses taken over the program. | Cash prize |
| The Judge Michael Rackemann Prize in Planning and Development Law Est. in 2022 and maintained by an annual gift from Judge Rackemann | Highest overall marks in the first attempt at the course entitled Planning and Development Law. | $2,000 |
| The Kay Young Memorial Prize Est. in 1989 & maintained by the income from a gift of $1,500 from the husband & friends of the late Mrs Kay Young, a graduate of the University of Queensland Law School. | Highest mark in the first attempt at the course entitled Jurisprudence. | Cash prize |
| The Maria De Donatis Memorial Prize in Corporate Law Est. in 1998 & maintained from a gift from the family & friends of the late Maria De Donatis, a graduate of the University of Queensland Law School and a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland. | Female student with the highest overall marks at the first attempt at the courses entitled Corporate Law, Foundations of Property Law and Interests in Property. | Cash prize |
| The MinterEllison Prize in Law Est. in 1977 & maintained by an annual gift from MinterEllison. | Highest overall marks for the LLB or LLB(Hons) program. | $2,000 |
| MinterEllison Chris Douglas Memorial Prize Est. in 2020 from a gift from MinterEllison dedicated to the memory of late Partner, Chris Douglas. | Highest overall marks in the first attempt at Law of Torts I and Law of Torts II and Law of Contract I and Law of Contract II. | $2,000 |
| The Queensland Environmental Law Association Prize in Environmental Law Est. in 2007 by an annual gift from QELA Inc. | Highest overall mark in the first attempt at Environmental Law. | Student membership of QELA for one year; certificate |
| The RJ Bulley 1960 Prize Est. in 2006 and originally maintained by an annual donation from the Hon. RJ Bulley. From 2012 this prize was funded through an endowment established by a bequest. | Highest marks in the course entitled Law of Evidence. | Cash Prize |
| The Robertson O’Gorman Prizes in Criminal Law Est. in 2014 and maintained by an annual gift from Robertson O’Gorman. | Two top performing students in the first attempt in Criminal Law. | Each prize is $1,000 |
| The Ross Anderson Memorial Prize Founded 1961 on the initiative of the UQ Staff Association by contributions amounting to approx. $600 from the parents and friends of Harry Ross Anderson, first Professor of Public Law, and first Staff Association representative on the Senate of the University, who died on 23 February 1961. | Highest overall mark in the first attempt at the course entitled Constitutional Law. | Cash for the purchase of books. |
| The Tax Institute Prizes in Law Est. in 1998 & maintained by an annual gift from the Taxation Institute. | Prize 1 – The highest mark in the first attempt at Introduction to Taxation Law. Prize 2 – Highest mark in the first attempt at Advanced Tax in a year when the course is offered. Prize 3 – The highest mark in the first attempt at Business Taxation. | Registration in the ‘Young Tax Professionals Series’; and a certificate of achievement |
| My Tax Saver Prize Est. in 2007 and maintained by an annual gift from My Tax Saver Pty Ltd. | Highest overall mark at the first attempt in Introduction to Taxation Law. | One-year subscription to My Tax Saver. |
| The Thomas William McCawley Memorial Prize Est. in 1995 by a bequest of $10,000 by Miss M. McCawley to perpetuate the memory of her father, the Honourable Thomas McCawley. | Greatest proficiency in Labour Law taken for the first time. | Cash for the purchase of books |
| The Thomson Reuters Prize Est. in 2020 and awarded directly from the donor to the student. | Highest mark in the first attempt at Transnational Organised Crime Working Group. | $150 Book e-Voucher |
| The Virgil Power Prize Est. in 1946 by a gift of $700 from the members of his family in memory of the Honourable Virgil Power. | Students completing the LLB or LLB(Hons) program. Highest overall marks in compulsory level 3 and 4 courses. | Cash prize |
| The Walter Harrison Prize Est. in 1967 as a memorial to the late Professor W.N.L. Harrison & maintained by the income from a fund in excess of $1,700 subscribed by his former colleagues in the profession and at the University, students & friends. | Highest mark for the first attempt at the courses entitled Foundations of Property Law and Interests in Property. | Cash prize |