Hamilton law firm Norris Ward McKinnon has awarded its 2019 University of Waikato scholarships to Thilini Karunaratne and Phoebe Parson.

The scholarships are worth up to $11,000 each and are for students doing postgraduate study in any area of law.

Masters student Thilini Karunaratne's research focuses on issues surrounding privacy, particularly in New Zealand, but she also hopes to compare New Zealand with other jurisdictions such as the UK and India.

Phoebe Parson is a PhD student. Her doctoral thesis explores the legal frameworks for managing natural resources in New Zealand, particularly looking at geothermal, fisheries, and Crown-owned mineral resources.

Norris Ward McKinnon partner Dan Moore says the scholarships connect students to the real world of law in practice and allow the firm's staff as practitioners insight into the topics of specialised research going on in the legal services industry.