Sydney Law School Alumna Awarded Peter Cameron Oxford Scholarship

Aoife, who ranked first in her Juris Doctor, stood out for her academic excellence and commitment to the law.

The Peter Cameron Sydney Oxford Scholarship will enable Aoife to undertake the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) at the University of Oxford later this year.

The BCL is a world-renowned graduate course in law, designed to serve outstanding law students from common law backgrounds. Each year, the Peter Cameron Sydney Oxford Scholarship provides $60,000 to a Sydney Law student to undertake the BCL.

Throughout her time at Sydney Law School, Aoife demonstrated exceptional dedication both in and out of the classroom. She earned several academic prizes, was a student editor of Sydney Law Review and was an avid mooter.

In particular, she was a member of Sydney Law School’s most successful ever team in the Willem C Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot and won a best speaker prize.

Alongside her studies, Aoife balanced working as an assistant to senior counsel and later as the part-time Associate to Justice Lee in the Federal Court of Australia. Upon leaving Sydney Law School, Aoife continued her role as the Associate to Justice Lee and later commenced as a graduate at Allens.

She remains an active contributor to the law school community, including through the Women's Mooting Program.

We spoke to Aoife about the journey that led her to the scholarship.

Why did you choose the Sydney Law School to study your Juris Doctor?

The Juris Doctor promised to be a vibrant, immersive experience, and it certainly was.

Although I completed most of my degree online during the pandemic, I felt valued and supported by my peers and teachers. In particular, Professor Chester Brown and Mr Adam Waldman are important mentors to whom I owe a great deal.

I was also drawn to Sydney Law School's important history and vision for the future.

It is no coincidence that the list of Sydney Law School alumni includes the first woman to graduate with an LLB in Australia and the first woman to practice as a lawyer in New South Wales.

What was the highlight of your studies here?

The highlight of my time at Sydney Law School was my involvement in mooting and other legal skills competitions.

In my first year, I participated in the Women's Mooting Program and was inspired by the generosity and talents of other students. 

Mooting improved my confidence, fed into my studies and led to some wonderful friendships.

What does winning this scholarship mean to you?

I feel very honoured to receive the Peter Cameron Sydney Oxford Scholarship.

There are many barriers to postgraduate study, and I am grateful to be part of a community which seeks to remove them. 

It was also a privilege to meet with the selection panel, including the Governor of New South Wales, a member of the Cameron family and the Dean of Sydney Law School.

I am also grateful to my family for their constant support. My parents have always emphasised the importance of education. I certainly carry this with me.

What are your future plans?

In the long term, I would love to be a barrister. My time as a barrister's assistant and Judge's Associate showed me that the bar is a place which values bravery and integrity, and one which is undergoing great change as new voices emerge.

Honest and robust legal advocacy has never been more important. It also looks like great fun (most of the time).

I am also passionate about improving access to justice and legal literacy. Legal concepts and processes are so often clouded by jargon and overcomplication, I would love to start a podcast or community program which addresses this issue.

What advice would you give to those looking to pursue a career in law?

Empathy and intuition are important. They sit at the heart of many legal principles and are good professional and personal yardsticks.

Your studies or work in the law should be a mix of challenge, progress, reflection and fun.

Sometimes there will be more of one thing than the other, but if you cannot get the balance right, do not be afraid to ask for help.

Your mental health and wellbeing are paramount, and you owe it to yourself to prioritise them.