33 year-old Samuel Taylor was presented the prize by Chief Justice of Victoria, the Honorable Anne Ferguson, at the Supreme Court on Wednesday 18 April 2018.
The Supreme Court Prize is the most prestigious academic prize for students graduating in law. It is a hallmark of outstanding excellence and intellectual ability.
Head of La Trobe’s Law School, Professor Patrick Keyzer, said he was delighted that Sam’s hard work has been rewarded with this prize.
“This award is a tribute to Sam, and also to O'Sullivan Johanson Lawyers who have supported him in his studies over the last few years,” Professor Keyzer said.
"Sam's achievement also makes it very clear that students in our Bendigo Law Program have the skill and the opportunities to achieve at the highest level,” he said.
Growing up in Bendigo, Sam started working as a clerk at O’Sullivan Johanson Lawyers in Bendigo in 2012. A year later, with the support of his employers, Sam started a Bachelor of Laws part-time at La Trobe University Bendigo.
Mr Taylor said he although he is grateful for all the congratulatory messages he has received since receiving the award, his wife is the one who should have received it.
“She was the one who sacrificed the most for my pursuit – she has missed out on a lot for me to get this degree and this prize,” Mr Taylor said.
Supreme Court Prize winners are highly sought after recruits, with many securing graduate positions in top law firms and associate roles for judges in the High Court of Australia and Supreme Court of Victoria.
Among the past winners are a great number of people who have gone on to lead distinguished careers as judges, lawyers, and tertiary educators and lecturers in the law.
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