Private Law prize honours top New Zealand judge
A prize in private law will serve as an enduring reminder of Sir Ivor Richardson’s...
A prize in private law will serve as an enduring reminder of Sir Ivor Richardson’s impact on New Zealand’s legal landscape and his long association with Victoria University of Wellington.
Sir Ivor died in December 2014 and left a bequest to the University that has enabled the Faculty of Law to establish the I.L.M. Richardson Prize in Private Law. The prize recognises outstanding performance by a Law student at Victoria University across four compulsory private law subjects - contract, equity, property and tort law.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Law Professor Mark Hickford says Sir Ivor’s gift will help support some of New Zealand’s best and brightest young Law students in an area of the law in which Sir Ivor was renowned.
Sir Ivor’s long-standing relationship with University started in 1967 when he joined the Faculty of Law as a professor. He went on to serve as Dean between 1968 and 1971. After returning to private practice for a period, Sir Ivor was appointed to the High Court in 1977 and elevated to the Court of Appeal the same year. During his 25 years at the Court of Appeal, including seven as its president, he maintained his ties with Victoria as Pro Chancellor from 1979 to 1984 and Chancellor from 1984 to 1986. On his judicial retirement in 2002, Sir Ivor was made a Distinguished Fellow of the Law Faculty.
Professor Mark Hickford says Sir Ivor’s contribution to private law, both through his judicial decisions and wider influence, was enormous.
“Sir Ivor was a lawyer, judge, academic and teacher of the highest calibre. It is very special to be able to remember him this way, and for his passion for legal education and for strengthening academic and business ties to live on through this prize.”
Each year’s prize winner will be decided by faculty staff and approved by the Dean of the Law School.