Judith Medlicott, 1993. Photographer unknown, P2022-017, Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hākena.
Former Chancellor, distinguished Otago alumna and prominent Dunedin lawyer Dr Judith Medlicott CNZM is remembered as a trailblazer in her profession, a strong advocate for women and for her dedicated service to the community. Dr Medlicott died at Yvette Williams Retirement Village in Dunedin at the weekend, aged 82.
Born in Invercargill, Dr Medlicott attended Otago Girls’ High School, before studying Arts and Law at Otago. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1963 and a Master of Arts, majoring in English, in 1964. In 1972, she began her Law studies at the University, graduating with an LLB in 1975.
Dr Medlicott served on the University of Otago Council for 13 years from 1985, including as Pro-Chancellor from 1991-1992 and Chancellor from 1993-1998. In 1998, she was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Otago and in the same year was recognised with the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the legal profession, education and the community.
University of Otago Chancellor Stephen Higgs says, “the University extends its sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Dr Medlicott at this time. We would also like to acknowledge her long and valued relationship with the University.
“We are very appreciative of the significant service Judith gave to the University of Otago community over many years. Her expertise, her time and her dedication to the University represented a major commitment and contribution to education, to our students and to this institution for which we are extremely grateful.”
Dr Medlicott began her legal career at Cook Allan & Co in 1975, and quickly became a trailblazer in her profession. Within five years she was made a partner in the firm, one of the first women in Otago to reach this milestone. She set up her own practice in 1986, and at the same time was also a co-founder of the Otago Women’s Law Society, known as OWLS.
She was awarded an OWLS Life Membership in 2014, as one of its founding members and “in recognition of her lengthy career, during which she broke through gender barriers and assisted other women to achieve success in their own legal careers”.
Dr Medlicott was instrumental in the formation of the Dunedin Collective for Women in the early 1970s, working on issues including abortion law reform, maternity leave, childcare options and equal pay for women.
She remained a strong advocate for women throughout her career. She specialised in family issues, in particularly Relationship Property disputes and Family Protection claims. In the late 1970s, she was appointed by the Court to represent hundreds of children in custody and welfare cases. She retired in 2015.
It is noted in her OWLS Life Membership citation that “Judith has been inspirational and has encouraged other women during their own careers, not only as a woman lawyer, but a successful woman lawyer who also managed to balance bringing up children and a successful career”.
Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Shelley Griffiths, says, “Judith Medlicott was a distinguished graduate of the Faculty of Law. As a female partner in the early 1980s and then as the founder of her own firm, she was an important role model for women in the profession and her commitment to breaking down gender barriers in the law has made a significant contribution to the profession. In 2005, she delivered the FW Guest Memorial Lecture, and for many years was a committed judge for student competitions in the Faculty.
“The Faculty of Law extends our sympathy to her family and acknowledge her extensive contributions to the practice of law.”
Law Professor Nicola Peart says Dr Medlicott was supportive of the Faculty’s activities, both during and after her term on the University Council.
“She was always ready to come out at night after a full day at work to judge law students’ competitions and give competitors constructive feedback,” says Professor Peart.
In her 2005 FW Guest Memorial Lecture, Dr Medlicott spoke about the increased reliance on psychiatrists and psychologists in cases before the Family Court. The lecture was published under the title Psychiatry and Psychology in the Family Court in the 2005 issue of the Otago Law Review.
Dr Medlicott held many community and governance roles both within Dunedin and nationally. She was a board member for Radio New Zealand, an elected member of the Otago District Health Board, a Member of the New Zealand Law Practitioner’s Disciplinary Tribunal and a Trustee of Ashburn Hall Charitable Trust.
In 2003, she was one of 140 prominent New Zealanders to sign a petition seeking a Royal Commission into the controversial conviction of childcare worker Peter Ellis.
Dr Medlicott also won the New Zealand Mastermind TVNZ competition in 1988, for which her choice of topic was A Dance to the Music of Time, a series of 12 volumes by Anthony Powell.