The University of Alberta Faculty of Law is pleased to announce that recent graduate Danielle Chu (JD '16) has been awarded the prestigious Viscount Bennett Scholarship from the Law Society of Alberta. The Law Society awards up to three Viscount Bennett scholarships annually to recognize and encourage a high standard of legal education, training, and excellence. The recipient of the award receives up to $20,000 towards post-graduate studies. Ms. Chu will be completing a year-long LLM at the London School of Economics, involving course work and thesis components.
"My original interest had been to study solely public international law, including state responsibility and the roles of international organizations, but I now anticipate broadening my scope to include an international anti-competition/anti-trust component, with a particular emphasis on state-owned entities, as I am interested in the intersection of public and private international law," said Ms. Chu. "The best part about the LSE program is that there is quite a bit of flexibility in which areas students can choose to specialize."
As to what the award means for her studies, Ms. Chu added:
"From a financial perspective, this generous award from the Law Society is incredibly helpful. It made pursuing my passion an obvious choice, knowing that I can finish the degree debt-free. Even more importantly, the award means so much to me because of its previous winners. It is such an honour to follow in the footsteps of past recipients, including two of my mentors, Assistant Professor Cameron Jefferies and Professor Mitchell McInnes. To be included in this group of distinguished people is incredibly humbling."
The Viscount Bennett Scholarship was established in 1943 when R.B. Bennett, a lawyer with the Law Society of Alberta, donated 100 shares of Royal Bank stock then valued at $100 per share.
"What a tremendous honour for Danni and for the Faculty of Law! The Viscount Bennett Scholarship is one of the Law Society's most prestigious awards and brings outstanding recognition for Ms. Chu's academic achievements and extracurricular activities - including as a researcher with the Environmental Law Centre of Alberta, a member of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Competition Team, and an editor for the Centre for Constitutional Studies - and for her future potential," said Dean Paul Paton.
"Ms. Chu is a tremendous ambassador for the University of Alberta Faculty of Law and I look forward to following her career. She joins an outstanding roster of distinguished U of A Law graduates who are former Viscount Bennett Scholarship winners - including Chancellor Doug Stollery, Justice (and former Vice Dean) Wayne Renke, Professors Mitchell McInnes, Shannon O'Byrne, Steven Penney, Erin Nelson, Chris Sprysak, ALRI Executive Director Sandra Petersson, and our two newest Professors Anna Lund and Cameron Jefferies. I have no doubt that she will excel in her graduate studies and make significant contributions to our profession and to Alberta."
Prof. Jefferies, who taught Ms. Chu and was her moot coach, said the following about her achievement:
"I came to know Ms. Chu quite well during her law school career at the University of Alberta. She was a leader in the classroom and also as a member of our Jessup moot team. I am delighted that she has opted to pursue her passion for international law by continuing her legal studies at the prestigious London School of Economics. She is incredibly deserving of the Viscount Bennett Scholarship and embodies the qualities for which the award stands."
Ms. Chu will begin her studies in London on September 21. This past summer she travelled to Nepal to summit Mt. Kala Pathar and climb to Mt. Everest Base Camp. She also began articling with Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in Calgary.
"Osler has been extremely supportive of my decision to pursue the LLM, and with the support of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, Osler, and the Law Society of Alberta, I am truly very excited to represent all these institutions abroad, and look forward to returning with newfound expertise," said Ms. Chu.
*Editor's Note: This story originally ran on July 21, 2016 and has been revised slightly.