Danielle Sirmai Memorial Award

Outline

This Award was established in Danielle's honour to promote and foster further study of international arbitration and private international law and develop expertise in these fields in Australia.

The award will be granted to a student enrolled in any undergraduate dual law degree, Juris Doctor degree program or post-graduate law degree to enable him/her to undertake either:

• an internship with an organisation/entity located outside of Australia which has a specialty in or meaningful connection with international commercial arbitration or private international law; or
• a specialised course of study at an institution located outside of Australia focused on international commercial arbitration or private international law.

Internship

In the case of an internship, the internship must be provided by a host organisation/entity located outside of Australia that has active and current private international law or international commercial arbitration projects in which the intern will be engaged to participate. Such organisations/entities may include, for example, without limitation:

• the ICC International Court of Arbitration;
• the Hague Conference on Private International Law;
• the International Centre for Dispute Resolution;
• the International Bar Association;
• the Union Internationale des Avocats;
• the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes;
• an office of Herbert Smith Freehills outside of Australia;
• an arbitration institution such as the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration or the Singapore International Arbitration Centre;
• an office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP; or
• any other legitimate entity engaged in private international law or international commercial arbitration, which may include an individual arbitrator, barrister or academic.

The Award recipient is responsible for organising their internship with the host organisation/entity. The internship must be approved by the Director of Experiential Learning, UNSW Law or their delegate.

Course of Study

In the case of undertaking a course of study, the course may be undertaken at a UNSW recognised exchange university and may be counted against the recipients degree credits, or it may be a professional development course at an internationally recognised institution.

Eligibility

Applicants for the Award must:

• Be enrolled in any undergraduate dual law degree, Juris Doctor degree program or post-graduate law degree
• if they are enrolled in an undergraduate dual Law degree or a Juris Doctor degree, be eligible to enrol in the subject LAWS 3308/JURD 7308 (UNSW Law Internship); or
• if they are enrolled in a postgraduate Law degree, be eligible to enrol in the subject LAWS 8173 (UNSW Postgraduate Law Internship).

An applicant who has previously completed the applicable subject is not eligible to enrol again in that subject, and is therefore not eligible for the Award.

Both the internship and course of study must involve the student travelling overseas to conduct work that develops his or her knowledge and skills in private international law or international commercial arbitration for the ultimate development/betterment of the Australian legal profession.

Applicants for the Award must nominate the host organisation/entity or educational institution as part of their application for the Award.

The recipient of the Award must arrange the particulars of the internship him/herself, with the assistance of the Director of Experiential Learning, UNSW Law or his/her nominees and with the Manager, UNSW Scholarships or his/her nominees for the course of study if it is a professional development course or the Global Exchange office if the course of study is part of a formal exchange program.

No guarantees are made that students will be able to do an internship or undertake a course of study with the organisation/entity of their first choice.

UNSW Law is responsible for supervising all aspects of the internship and course of study.

Selection

Applicants will be assessed on the following criteria:

• academic merit; and
• a written statement of up to 500 words:
  • explaining their interest in or commitment to private international law and/or international commercial arbitration;
  • describing any engagement in relevant extra-curricular activities, contribution to university life or leadership qualities; and
  • identifying:
    • the organisation/entity they would most like to do an internship with and explaining why; or
    • the course of study they propose to undertake and why.