Ethel Benjamin Scholarship


This award honours the country’s first woman barrister and solicitor, Ethel Benjamin, admitted in 1897.

Photo of Ethel Benjamin

Since the 1997 centenary of this event, the Law Foundation has awarded this scholarship to over 30 outstanding New Zealand women law graduates for post-graduate study, enabling them to study at some of the most prestigious universities in the world – Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, New York, Columbia and Duke.

Value is up to $30,000 annually.

The Ethel Benjamin Prize for Women – Still Relevant in 2007?

In 2007, the Law Foundation published this 10 page PDF that looks at the relevance of the prize ten years after its establishment. Prize-winners talk about their work, the challenges they face, the opportunities that winning the prize brought them and whether it’s still relevant to award a prize specifically for women. Author: Janet November

In the Footsteps of Ethel Benjamin – New Zealand’s first woman lawyer

Another Law Foundation funded publication by Janet November – a book about Ethel’s life, work, determination and the obstacles she had to overcome in the late nineteenth century when the legal profession was all-male and conservative.

Despite being in recess, we are delighted that we are able to continue to offer this scholarship throughout our recess period.

Applications close 1st February each year.

Applications are managed by Universities New Zealand. Apply here.

Terms of Reference

Previous Ethel Benjamin Scholarship Recipients

2024: Maddy Nash and Hannah Yang

The New Zealand Law Foundation along with Universities New Zealand Te Pōkai Tara are delighted to announce that Madeleine (Maddy) Nash and Hannah Yang have been awarded the 2024 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship.

Both Maddy and Hannah have chosen and been accepted into Harvard Law School and, with additional financial assistance from other scholarships, will be taking up their studies in August this year.

Photo of 2024 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winners

Photo of 2024 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winners

2023: Jessica Fenton

Jessica Fenton is the recipient of the 2023 New Zealand Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Scholarship. Jessica graduated in 2019 with a BA and LLB from the University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau.

About the recipient
Photo of 2023 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner

2022: Josephine Te Rata

University of Otago, LLB (Hons), BSc (Pure Mathematics)
Undertaking an LLM at Harvard University, USA focussed on indigenous law and the intersection between indigenous and settler legal systems.

About the recipient
Photo of 2022 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner

2022: Charlotte Agnew-Harington

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons), BA (Ancient History and Art History)
Undertaking an LLM at University of Chicago, USA focussed on rights-based, public law advocacy examining bias in public decision-making.

About the recipient
Photo of 2022 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner

2021: Georgia Bellett

University of Otago, LLB (Hons), BSc (Neuroscience)
Studying Environmental Law and Climate Change issues at UC Berkeley, in the United States

About the recipient
Photo of 2021 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner

2020: Ana Lenard

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons), BSc (Geography, Psychology)
Studying dispute resolution, social justice, legal theory and legal systems (including indigenous) at Columbia University in United States

About the recipient
Photo of 2020 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner

2019: Harriet Farquhar

Victoria University of Wellington, LLB (Hons)
Studying human rights, constitutional and international law at New York University Law School – particularly climate change-related displacement and migration in the Pacific

About the recipient
Photo of 2019 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Harriet Farquhar

2019 : Rosalind Kos

University of Canterbury, LLB (Hons)
Studying at University of Chicago – exploring a comparative and pragmatic approach to the prosecution of family violence cases

About the recipient
Photo of 2019 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Rosalind Kos

2019: Nichola Hodge

University of Canterbury, LLB (Hons)
Studying at University of Cambridge – issues of constitutional and human rights law, particularly litigation

About the recipient
Photo of 2019 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Nichola Hodge

2018 : Taylor Burgess

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons), BA Philosophy
Studying public health and human rights law at Yale University in United States

About the recipient
Photo of 2018 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Taylor Burgess

2018 : Kate Stone

Victoria University of Wellington, LLB; University of Auckland, LLM specialising in human rights law
Studying law and social change, focussing on criminal justice system reform, for her LLM at Columbia University

About the recipient
Photo of 2018 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Kate Stone

2018 : Rez Gardi

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons), BA International Relations/Political Studies and Criminology
Studying for LLM at Harvard Law School, focussing on the interface between refugee law and human rights

About the recipient
Photo of 2018 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Rez Gardi

2017 : Johanna McDavitt

Victoria University of Wellington, LLB (Hons), BA International Relations, minor French
Studying for LLM in anti-trust (competition) law and financial markets regulation at Harvard Law School

About the recipient
Photo of 2017 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Johanna McDavitt

2016 : Bree Huntley

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons), BA (Hons) English
Studying for LLM in administrative and constitutional law at Harvard Law School, Massachusetts

About the recipient
Photo of 2016 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Bree Huntley

2016 : Holly Hedley

University of Otago, LLB (Hons), BSc Psychology
Studying for LLM in global health law at Georgetown University, Washington DC

About the recipient
Photo of 2016 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Holly Hedley

2015 : Rebecca Thomson

University of Otago, LLB (Hons), BA (Hons) Philosophy and Political Science
Studying for LLM at Columbia University

About the recipient
Photo of 2015 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Rebecca Thomson

2015 : Stephanie Thompson

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons), BA
Studying for LLM at Cambridge University

About the recipient
Photo of 2015 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Stephanie Thompson

2014 : Lani Inverarity

Victoria University of Wellington, LLB (Hons), BA Political Science and International Relations
Studying for LLM at Yale University

About the recipient
Photo of 2014 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Lani Inverarity

2014 : Elizabeth Chan

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons), BA in Law, Political Science and French
Studying for LLM at Yale Law School

About the recipient
Photo of 2014 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Elizabeth Chan

2014 : Zoe Fuhr

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons), BA in Political Science and English
Studying for LLM at New York University

About the recipient
Photo of 2014 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Zoe Fuhr

2013 : Sally Trafford

University of Auckland, BA / LLM (Hons).
Studying for LLM at Harvard University in Massachusetts.

About the recipient
Photo of 2013 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Sally Trafford

2013 : Emma Peart

University of Otago, BA / LLM (Hons).
Studying for LLM at Cambridge University in UK.

About the recipient
Photo of 2013 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship joint winner Emma Peart

2012 : Amelia Keene

Victoria University of Wellington, First class honours degree in Law, BA in History and Philosophy, 2010.

Studying for LLM at Columbia University in New York.

About the recipient
Photo of 2012 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Amelia Keene

2011 : Charlotte Leslie

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons) and Bachelor Health Sciences, 2007.

Studying for LLM at Harvard University.

About the recipient
Photo of 2011 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Charlotte Leslie

2011 : Anna Crowe

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons) and BA (History), 2009.

Studying for LLM at Harvard University.

About the recipient
Photo of 2011 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Anna Crowe

2011 : Natalie Coates

University of Otago, First class honours degree in Law and Maori, 2009.

Studying for LLM at Harvard University.

About the recipient
Photo of 2011 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Natalie Coates

2010 : Adrienne Anderson

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons) and BA (Spanish), 2008.

Studying for LLM in Public International Law at the University of Michigan.

About the recipient
Photo of 2010 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Adrienne Anderson

2010 : Sarah Nolan

University of Canterbury, LLB (Hons) and BA (Geography), 2007.

Studying for LLM in Environmental Law and Policy at the University College of London.

About the recipient
Photo of 2010 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Sarah Nolan

2009: Grace (Sim Dam) Lee

University of Canterbury, LLB (Hons) and BCom (Economics), 2007.

Studying for LLM in International Environmental Law at Cambridge University.

About the recipient
Photo of 2009 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Grace (Sim Dam) Lee

2009 : Katherine (Kate) Wevers

University of Otago, LLB (Hons) and BSc (Biotechnology), 2005.

Studying for LLM in Law and Biotechnology at Harvard University.

About the recipient
Photo of 2009 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Kate Wevers

2008 : Jessica Kerr

Victoria University of Wellington, LLB (Hons), 2006.

Studied for LLM in Public and Private Law at Yale University.

About the recipient
Photo of 2008 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Jessica Kerr

2007 : Toni Moyes

University of Canterbury, LLB (Hons) and BA, 2004

Studied for LLM at New York University School of Law, focussing on legal mechanisms that address energy production and climate preservation.

About the recipient
Photo of 2007 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Toni Moyes

2007 : Charlotte Brown

Victoria University of Wellington, BA / LLB (Hons), 2004

Studied for LLM at Columbia Law School, focussing on developing freedom of speech jurisprudence.

About the recipient
Photo of 2007 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Charlotte Brown

2006 : Nicola Roughan

University of Auckland LLB / BA, 2005

Studied for LLM at Yale University, in legal philosophy and international law.

About the recipient
Photo of 2006 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Nicole Roughan

2006 : Katherine Sanders

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons) and BA, 2004

Studied for LLM in Constitutional and Administrative Law at Yale University.

About the recipient
Photo of 2008 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Katherine Sanders

2005 : Rhonda Powell

University of Otago, LLB (Hons) and BA (Politics), 2002

Studied for DPhil at Oxford University, Centre for Socio-Legal Studies.

About the recipient
Photo of 2005 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Rhonda Powell

2004 : Jessica Palmer

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons) and BCom, 2002

Studied Private Law at University of Cambridge.

About the recipient
Photo of 2004 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Jessica Palmer

2003 : Anna Longdill

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons) and BSc, 2003

Studied for MSc in Criminal Justice at Oxford University.

About the recipient
Photo of 2003 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Anna Longdill

2002 : Rachel Carnachan

University of Auckland, BA / LLM (Hons), 2000

Studied for LLM at Harvard University, focusing on role commercial law mechanisms play in containing risks of NZ’s integration with open capital markets.

About the recipient
Photo of 2002 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Rachel Carnachan

2002 : Liesle Theron

Victoria University of Wellington, LLB (Hons), 1999; University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, BA (Law), 1995

Studied for LLM at New York University, in Administrative Law specialising in regulatory law and practice.

About the recipient
Photo of 2002 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Liesle Theron

2001 : Claudia Geiringer

Victoria University of Wellington, LLB / BA (Hons)

Studied for LLM at Columbia University, in Constitutional and Human Rights Law.

About the recipient
Photo of 2001 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Claudia Geiringer

2001 : Misty Bailey

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons) / B.Com

Studied for LLM at New York University, in Tax Law.

About the recipient
Photo of 2001 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Misty Bailey

2000 : Hanna Wilberg

University of Otago, LLB (Hons) / BA

Studied for BCL and MPhil at Oxford University, focusing on Judicial Review.

About the recipient
Photo of 2000 Ethel Benjamin Scholarship winner Hanna Wilberg

2000 : Joanne Oliver

Victoria University of Wellington

Studied for LLM at Columbia University School of Law, in Intellectual Property and the Internet

About the recipient

1999 : Rachael Convery

University of Auckland, LLB (Hons) / BA (Law/English Literature), 1996

Studied for LLM at Columbia University School of Law, in Corporate and Securities Law.

About the recipient

1999 : Nicole Moreham

University of Canterbury, LLB, (Hons), 1997

Studied for LLM and PhD at University of Cambridge, in Privacy Law.

About the recipient

1998 : Catherine Murphy

University of Auckland, LLB, 1995

Studied for LLM at University of Cambridge, in Competition Law.

About the recipient

1998 : Janette Campbell

University of Auckland LLB (Hons), BA

Studied for LLM at Berkeley School of Law, in Environmental Law.

About the recipient

1998 : Louise Stoupe

University of Auckland, LLB / BA, 1995

Studied for M.Com Law, in Shipping and Insurance at University of Auckland, and LLM at Duke University School of Law.

About the recipient

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