Awardees are young barristers and solicitors who have shown "outstanding" promise in the profession
The New Zealand Law Foundation has named Oliver Fredrickson as the Cleary Memorial Prize recipient for 2023.
The $5,000 award is given to young barristers or solicitors who display “outstanding future promise in the legal profession,” the Law Foundation said in a media release. The accolade was named for former Court of Appeal judge Timothy Cleary, who also used to be president of the Wellington District Law Society and New Zealand Law Society.
Fredrickson graduated from Victoria University with first-class honours in law and a Bachelor of Commerce. He was part of the Victoria Law Students' Society Executive.
Upon graduating, he became a judge's clerk for District Court Chief Judge Heemi Taumaunu. Fredrickson helped to design, develop and implement Te Ao Mārama while in this role.
Moreover, he aided the Chief Judge of the Court Martial with New Zealand's first-ever espionage prosecution. In June 2023, he obtained an LL.M (highest honours) at Columbia University, ranking in the top 2% of his graduating class. Fredrickson also completed a stint as junior counsel for criminal lawyer Christopher Stevenson and made contributions to Te Matakahi | Defence Lawyers Association of New Zealand.
Fredrickson’s academic articles have been cited by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. He also volunteered at the Community Law Centre.
