Alison Dewar Scholarship in Women's Equality, Labour and Human Rights Law

Award created thanks to the generosity of the National Association of Women and the Law Trust for Research and Education (‘NAWL Trust') and by Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne and Yazbeck LLP/s.r.l. (RavenLaw)

Award Overview

Value of the award:
$5,000
Number of awards:
1
Award frequency:
Annual
Level or program of study:
Undergraduate
Application Type:
Online Scholarship and Bursaries portal, accessible via uoZone.
Application Deadline:
November 3
Renewable:
No

Purpose of this Award

To provide financial support for a student who is a woman in the JD program interested in pursuing a career in some combination of women's equality and union-side labour, workers' rights, or human rights law.

Eligibility Criteria

The candidate must:

  1. be a woman who is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a person with the protected/refugee status or an international student
  2. be registered as a student in the JD program at the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section of the University of Ottawa
  3. demonstrate an intent to pursue a career in some combination of women's equality and union-side labour, workers' rights, or human rights law (preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate an interest in more than one of these fields)
  4. describe any barriers that may be relevant to her successful pursuit of legal studies, including but not limited to her economic circumstances

How to Apply

Submitted in the Online Scholarship and Bursaries portal, accessible via uoZone, and must include:

  1. the Curriculum Vitae on Online Scholarships and Bursaries
  2. a 1-2 page letter from the applicant detailing:
a) her interest in pursuing a career in women's equality and some combination of union-side labour, workers' rights, or human rights law

b) any information about barriers that may be relevant to her successful pursuit of legal studies, including but not limited to economic circumstances

About this Award

This scholarship fund was created by the National Association of Women and the Law Trust for Research and Education (‘NAWL Trust') and by Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne and Yazbeck LLP/s.r.l. (RavenLaw) in memory of Alison Dewar, who died on October 17, 2013.

Alison was an ardent defender of social justice on all fronts, as a union-side labour lawyer, human rights advocate and activist community member. Called to the bar in 2000 after graduating from the University of Ottawa, she was a compassionate and formidable advocate for her clients, a gifted legal thinker, a respected litigator, and a generous mentor to young lawyers. She was proud to be named partner at RavenLaw in 2008. Alison joined NAWL's National Steering Committee in 2005, providing insightful direction for the organization, particularly during her many years as Co-Chair. 

Her powerful lesbian feminist voice, outstanding sense of humour, wisdom and leadership are deeply missed not only by her friends and colleagues at NAWL and at RavenLaw, but by the social justice community at large.