Des Butler’s Lasting Legacy for Law Students
Professor Des Butler was an award-winning and innovative teacher and his legacy will continue on, not only in his past students, but with prizes and scholarships to reward excellence and support disadvantaged law students to reach their potential.
Over the 30 years Des Butler was part of the QUT Faculty of Law, he received many awards including the David Gardiner Teacher of the Year Award in 2015 and the Lexis Nexis Law Teachers Association Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Teaching of Law Award, which he received twice. He is fondly remembered for his dedication to his students and innovative curriculum and learning design. 
With his passing, Des left a bequest to the Faculty of Law that will create a lasting legacy in his memory.
In discussions with Des Butler’s father, Allan Butler, a new annual prize of $5,000 for the top performing student in LLB202 Contract Law has also been created, making it the largest academic prize available to students within the QUT Faculty of Law.
The inaugural prize was awarded to Brianna Woodall for her outstanding performance in Contract Law.
“I am honoured to be the recipient of the Professor Des Butler Memorial Prize for Contract Law. Des was an incredible teacher and I am delighted to see his legacy being carried on by QUT. I would like to express my sincerest thanks to Mr Allan Butler. Contract Law at QUT was an incredibly beneficial subject to me,” she said.
Also this year the QUT Faculty of Law Founders’ Des Butler Memorial Scholarship was created which will support disadvantaged law students for many years to come. The QUT Faculty of Law Founders’ Scholarship Fund is unique to QUT and provides financial support, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Previous student, Sarah Gough added, “The Des Butler Memorial Scholarship is a truly wonderful idea. Des was an incredible educator - anyone lucky enough to experience his tutelage would agree. I worked alongside Des during the Vacation Research Scheme and it was a fantastic three months. He is most deserving of this appropriate and respectful legacy.”
Des Butler’s father Allan Butler shared,
“My son spent his life at QUT creating and refining his methods of using virtual life scenarios in law, which make teaching and learning a more interesting experience.
It is important to our family to encourage that his methods are not forgotten, and that these more modern teaching methods, are taken up by others. We believe that these projects have played an important part in bringing out the best in his students.
Knowing the importance that Des placed on rewarding outstanding effort and achievement, our family feels that it is important for us to support and reward these overachievers and sincerely hope that the recipients, particularly the award in Contract Law, continues to maintain these high standards and that the future reflects this outstanding effort.”
Read more about the QUT Faculty of Law Prizes here.
Find out about some of our inspiring QUT Faculty of Law Founders’ Scholarship recipients Freya, Cassandra, and Duku.
