The Supreme Court congratulates Victoria's leading legal graduates on receiving the Supreme Court Prize.
The Prize, which was first awarded in 1864, honours the top student at each of Victoria's eight law schools. Three Exhibition Prizes for the best honours thesis were also awarded.
Supreme Court Prize Winners
- Genevieve Aldridge – La Trobe University
- Zoe Burchill – Deakin University
- Nicholas Cheek – Swinburne University of Technology
- Alice Cockshott – RMIT University
- Mitchell Gutteridge – Australian Catholic University
- Harrison Lee Jones – Monash University
- Cordelia O'Rourke – La Trobe University
- Lauren Sibree – University of Melbourne
- Hailey Jade Wallace – Victoria University
Supreme Court Exhibition Prize Winners
- Isabella Anticev – La Trobe University
- Nicholas Campbell – Monash University
- Andrew Foster – Monash University
The 2021 award recipients were honoured at a presentation on Thursday 23 June alongside the 2020 and 2019 recipients whose celebrations were impacted by the pandemic.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Ferguson, herself a former Supreme Court Prize recipient, commended the class of 2021.
"The Supreme Court Prize is the culmination of many years of dedication, hard work and sacrifice and it is wonderful to be able to celebrate these achievements together again," she said.
"There has been no shortage of challenges for these students and graduates, and no doubt there will be more ahead, but the perseverance, resourcefulness and adaptability they have already shown will stand them in good stead both professionally and personally."
Associate Justice Patricia Matthews, who addressed Thursday's joint celebration and is also a former Supreme Court Prize recipient, said recipients would be joining a distinguished group.
"There are 22 retired judges and seven current judges of the Supreme Court who have previously been awarded the Supreme Court Prize along with six High Court judges and numerous judges of other courts," she said.
"A number of past recipients have also had distinguished careers in other spheres, including two Prime Ministers, two Governors General and two Victorian Premiers."
Chief Justice Ferguson said a law degree equipped graduates with a strong foundation for myriad careers both inside and outside the legal fraternity and traditional roles.
"I'm excited about the opportunities ahead for our Prize recipients and look forward to seeing how they take our profession forward in the coming years," she said.