Hall & Wilcox awards inaugural William Orule Memorial Law Scholarship

Hall & Wilcox is delighted to announce that Zainab Khavery is the inaugural recipient of the William Orule Memorial Law Scholarship.

The scholarship was set up in honour of former Hall & Wilcox colleague William Orule, who found refuge in Australia after fleeing South Sudan, but tragically passed away in 2021.

Zainab left Afghanistan, pregnant and on her own, and arrived in Australia as a refugee in 2015, when her son was one-and-a-half years old. She is studying a Bachelor of Accounting/Bachelor of Laws at Western Sydney University.

During her eight years in Australia, Zainab has endured trauma, anxiety, loneliness, homelessness, financial hardship and hopelessness but as ‘a mother, fighter, and dreamer’ she has not given up.

‘I dream to be a role model for my community, and change and fight against all boundaries which are against women’s rights and human rights. I have a big dream for my son to support him,’ she said. ‘I feel grateful and honoured to have received this scholarship.’

Head of Pro Bono Nathan Kennedy said it was wonderful to be able to help Zainab in William’s name.

‘Part of our purpose is to enable our communities to thrive. What better way to give a hand up to resilient people ready to do great things? Zainab, who dreams to be a role model, is a worthy recipient of this scholarship,’ he said.

The William Orule Memorial Law Scholarship is open to law students from a refugee background in their penultimate or final year of law. In addition to the $10,000 scholarship, the student has an opportunity to undertake a four-week clerkship at our firm.