2007 Shirley Smith Council Brief Article

The Wellington District Law Society’s Women-in-Law Committee propose to hold an annual lecture in honour of Shirley Smith, one of New Zealand’s great women of the law. The Committee proposes to hold the inaugural lecture later this year.

Shirley Smith was 35 years old when she enrolled at the Victoria University Law School in 1952. She qualified and practiced law in New Zealand at a time when there were very few women in the legal profession. Her endeavours in the law reflected a determination to ensure justice and counsel was received by all. She was inspirational both to her colleagues and to those she represented. The Committee hopes that by honouring her contribution to the law by way of this annual lecture, we will not only celebrate and respect her life in the law, but also will facilitate her continuing to inspire men and women of all ages to come to this privileged and honoured profession.

Sadly Shirley Smith passed away on 29 December 2007. An obituary, with edits from a eulogy presented by Judge Ema Aitken at Shirley’s funeral service, was published in Council Brief in February 2008. In reading that obituary one could not help but be inspired by this woman of intellect, passion, strength, and commitment to the law and justice.

The New Zealand Law Foundation has generously donated a grant of money to fund this inaugural lecture. The Committee extends its sincere appreciation to the Law Foundation. The Committee is also privileged to have the support of Shirley’s family and members of the legal profession, including the Wellington District Law Society and the Victoria Law Faculty, in promoting this annual lecture in Shirley’s honour.

If you would like to contribute ideas or provide assistance for the proposed lecture, please contact Ruth Nichols on 924 3749 or ruth.nichols@comcom.govt.nz.