We are thrilled to announce Charlotte Kerr as the winner of the 2024 Yvonne A. M. Smith Scholarship. Charlotte’s academic excellence and unwavering commitment to becoming a leading medical lawyer, and ultimately a Judge, demonstrate her dedication to supporting vulnerable populations and advocating for progressive mental health laws.

Charlotte is a dedicated medical and mental health litigator currently practicing in New Zealand. Her impressive academic background includes an LLB and a BA from Victoria University, as well as a six-month exchange at the National University of Singapore in 2014, where she was honoured as a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia.

The financial support from the Yvonne A. M. Smith Scholarship is enabling Charlotte to further her education at King’s College London, where she will pursue an MSc in Mental Health Ethics and Law.

Charlotte’s journey has been enriched by her roles at John Miller Law, a prominent accident compensation law firm, and Duncan Cotterill. She has extensive experience acting for vulnerable New Zealanders in her work as a Mental Health Act duty solicitor and counsel for hundreds of ACC claimants challenging adverse decisions. Charlotte has also represented health practitioners in disciplinary investigations and proceedings and volunteers at local community law centres.

We congratulate Charlotte on her achievements and look forward to seeing her continued impact in the field of medical and mental health law.