Fund Details
SCBA Richard R. Garland Diversity Scholarship 2020
Minimum Amount
$1,000
Maximum Amount
$5,000
Scholarship Type
One-time
Last Updated On
11/26/2019

Brief Description:

The Sarasota County Bar Association Diversity Scholarship Fund is intended to provide an internship opportunity for first through third year law students of under-represented minority backgrounds (e.g. race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, or physical disability), who have an interest in practicing law in Sarasota County upon graduation, to obtain summer placement in private law firms and governmental agencies in Sarasota County. The Scholarship Application is open to those aforementioned law students enrolled in Florida law schools and those enrolled in out-of-state law schools, but who have or having had family, school, or community ties to Sarasota County and are interested in practicing law in Sarasota County.

Description:

The Sarasota County Bar Association Diversity Scholarship Fund is intended to provide an internship opportunity for first through third year law students of under-represented minority backgrounds (e.g. race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, or physical disability), who have an interest in practicing law in Sarasota County upon graduation, to obtain summer placement in private law firms and governmental agencies in Sarasota County. The Scholarship Application is open to those aforementioned law students enrolled in Florida law schools and those enrolled in out-of-state law schools, but who have or having had family, school, or community ties to Sarasota County and are interested in practicing law in Sarasota County.

The Diversity Scholarship aims to foster an employment and collegial relationship between the law student/s and the legal employer/s and consequently enhance the diversity of the Sarasota legal community. At the conclusion of the student’s summer employment, the law school where the student matriculates will receive scholarship funds of $1,000.00 up to $5,000.00 per student, to be used by the student for his/her law degree.  The Diversity Intern also earns wages from the Employer.

The SCBA Diversity Committee assigns an attorney mentor to each Diversity Scholarship Intern. Along with the Internship Employer, the SCBA mentor coordinates the activities promoting the Diversity Scholarship Intern’s professional development during the internship period. The Diversity Scholarship Intern and the Diversity Scholarship Employer will be welcomed and recognized, respectively, at a reception by the SCBA and representatives from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

Information regarding housing alternatives may be obtained from the SCBA Diversity Committee.

Special Eligibility Requirements:

FLORIDA BAR CERTIFIED LEGAL INTERN

Becoming a Florida Bar Certified Legal Intern (CLI) may increase your employability among a greater number of potential employers.  A CLI may appear in any court or before any administrative tribunal in Florida while under the supervision and written approval of a licensed attorney.  A CLI may also engage in other activities such as preparing pleadings, briefs, abstracts and other documents and may also participate in oral arguments in appellate courts.

Obtaining your CLI designation is strictly voluntary and is not a requirement to qualify for the Richard R. Garland Diversity Scholarship.  However, becoming a CLI will enable you to accept employment with a wider variety of potential employers, particularly government employers such as the State Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office, which typically require their applicants to be CLIs.

Due to the time it may take for the Florida Bar to review and process CLI applications, it is recommended that you start this process as soon as possible if you wish to become a CLI.  More information about the application process and the requirements for obtaining your CLI designation can be found here: http://www.floridabarexam.org

Links to Additional Information:

Further information may be obtained by visiting the Sarasota County Bar Association website at www.sarasotabar.com or emailing to scba@sarasotabar.com.

Contact Information:

For questions about this application, please contact the Community Foundation of Sarasota County Scholarships Team at Scholarships@cfsarasota.org