The Legal Aid Summer Fellowship Application Deadline is Wednesday, January 19, 2011. Students will be notified of their selection by early February 2011.

The Florida Bar Foundation's 2011 Legal Aid Summer Fellowship Program

The Florida Bar Foundation is sponsoring the 2011 Legal Aid Summer Fellowship Program at legal aid and legal services programs in Florida. The Florida Legal Aid Project Directors' Association sponsors a Terry Russell Summer Fellow to honor Terry Russell, who has made significant pro bono contributions to the delivery of legal services for the poor in Florida; and when President of The Florida Bar, he led the successful effort to pass and fund the Florida Access to Civil Legal Assistance Act.

The Foundation will designate a Rebecca Knox fellow to honor her dedication to legal services to the indigent. Rebecca Knox was a devoted legal aid attorney in Florida representing victims of domestic violence when she unexpectedly died at an early age.

It is expected that approximately 20 full-time fellowships will be offered to first and second-year law students. The Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program runs for a period of 11 weeks and is a full-time position for the summer. Fellowship stipends are expected to be $5,500 for first-year students and $7,000 for second-year students for the eleven week period.

Fellowship Purposes

• To involve fellowship recipients in the provision of high-quality, significant civil legal assistance to the poor in critical areas of need.
• To provide an in-depth educational experience in representing the poor and working with individual clients and client groups in civil matters.
• To increase law student interest in and awareness of the legal problems of the poor and the challenges and satisfaction of representing the poor.
• To promote commitment to pro bono representation of the poor.

Student Eligibility and Selection Criteria

First and second-year law students attending accredited law schools are eligible to apply as long as they are in good-standing with their law school. Minority students are specifically encouraged to apply. Among the factors to be considered in selections are: experience in working with the low-income community, academic achievement, writing skills, and previous contact with and long-term commitment/interest in public service/pro bono work. Law student applicants will be provided an opportunity to specify program placement preference. Due to the necessity of insuring placement throughout Florida in a variety of programs and sites, student flexibility in preference sites may be a factor in selection.

All applications were due at the Florida Bar Foundation on Wednesday, January 19, 2011. Students will be notified of their selection by early February 2011

Fellowship Term

The fellowship commences with a two-day mandatory training and orientation seminar - to be held May 19 and 20, 2011 in Orlando, Florida - prior to the fellows arriving for work at the programs. Housing, meals, and reasonable travel expenses for the two-day training will be provided. Fellows are scheduled to report to work at their programs on Monday, May 23, 2011 with the fellowship ending on Friday, August 5, 2011.

Application and Selection Process

Summer Fellowship applications will be available on the Foundation website November 15, 2010. Summer Fellowship application information will also be provided to Career Services offices at each of the law schools in Florida.

The application deadline is January 19, 2011. Selection and notification to students will be completed by early February 2011.