William Ah Ket Scholarship launches for 2018

Monday 14 May 2018

The 2018 William Ah Ket Scholarship - named after Australia’s first barrister of Chinese background - was launched today.

The scholarship is open to final year law students, law graduates undertaking practical legal training and young lawyers with no more than five years’ post-admission experience. Applicants are required to write a paper researching a topic relating to equality, diversity and the legal profession (or law).

The William Ah Ket Scholarship is an initiative by the Asian Australian Lawyers Association (AALA) and sponsored by Maddocks. It is designed to recognise the historical contribution of William Ah Ket to the legal profession as the first Asian Australian barrister in Australia.

William studied at the University of Melbourne and then completed his articles at the firm of Maddock & Jamieson (now Maddocks) in 1903.

William joined the Bar in 1904, becoming the first Chinese barrister to practise in Melbourne.

AALA vice-president William Lye, OAM said he was excited to see how the success of the scholarship’s first year in 2017 would flow into this year.

‘The AALA was thrilled with the success of the first year of the William Ah Ket Scholarship and we are looking forward to seeing another thought-provoking group of applications this year.'

‘There has also been an increase in the funding for the scholarship, with $6,000 going to the winner, and for the first time two shortlisted entries will each receive $1,000 prizes.’

The judging panel for this year’s scholarship will be:

• The Honourable Justice Margaret Joan Beazley AO, President of the Court of Appeal, New South Wales
• His Honour Judge Joshua Wilson, Federal Circuit Court of Australia
• Professor George Williams AO, Dean of UNSW Law
• Patrick Ibbotson, Partner and Chairman of Maddocks

Maddocks CEO Michelle Dixon said the firm was proud once again to be the sponsor of the William Ah Ket Scholarship.

‘It is important that the legal profession continues its dialogue relating to issues addressing diversity and equality, whether that be within the profession or the way the law tackles those issues.'

‘It is our hope that this scholarship contributes to that conversation and that it encourages young lawyers and law students to think critically about their profession and the application of the law.’

Entries for the scholarship are now open. The deadline for entries is 20 July 2018. The winner will be announced in September.

More information on the William Ah Ket Scholarship is available at the AALA website.