PROGRAM
The San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (“SFTLA”) Diversity Committee has established a Fellowship Program to introduce a diverse group of law students to the plaintiffs’ bar generally and to the SFTLA specifically. The Fellowship Program (the “Program”) will allow selected students to observe the work of trial attorneys as part of a summer-long mentoring program. Fellows will gain exposure to the work of trial attorneys by “shadowing” three mentor law firms, each for a three to four week period. Fellows will attend depositions, hearings, settlement proceedings, and possibly even trial with their mentors. They will also have the opportunity to work on short-duration projects, including a writing assignment.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Students seeking consideration for a Fellowship must submit their application no later than January 15, 2009. Based upon qualifications, the SFTLA Fellowship Selection Committee will invite applicants to be interviewed. Interviews will be scheduled throughout the month of February. Students selected for the Fellowship will be notified by February 28, 2009.
Each applicant should submit the following:
1) Completed Student Application which includes:
a. Current Resume
b. Personal Statement
Completed applications may be completed online at www.sftla.org. Alternatively, applications can be printed from the website and can be mailed or faxed to:
2009 SFTLA Trial Advocacy Fellowship Program
San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
225 Bush Street, Suite 357
San Francisco, CA 94104
415.956.6401 (voice)
415.956.6680 (fax)
Email us at staff@sftla.org with any questions or comments.
DETAILS
The program will run for 10 weeks – June 1 through August 7, 2009. Fellows will be asked to commit to a minimum of 40 hours per week for 10 weeks during the summer. They will be assigned to three different Mentor Firms, each for a three to four week period. The Mentor Firms vary by practice areas and by size. All Mentor Firms represent plaintiffs in civil actions; the practice areas include personal injury, employment, civil rights, and consumer law. Fellows will primarily “shadow” senior attorneys at the Mentor Firms and secondarily assist in discrete projects within the Mentor Firm. The goal is to provide Fellows with the opportunity to observe a number of different trial lawyers during different aspects of litigation, including conducting depositions, attending hearings, meeting with clients, or trial. Mentors will ensure that the Fellows are primarily engaged in observing a variety of tasks confronting trial lawyers in advocating on behalf of clients. At the end of the Program, Fellows will be required to complete a written evaluation and an exit interview.
STIPEND AMOUNT
Participants in the SFTLA Summer 2009 Trial Advocacy Fellowship Program will receive a stipend of $6,000 for the summer. The stipend will be distributed as follows:
· $1,500 on Monday, June 1, 2009;
· $1,500 on Monday, June 19, 2009;
· $1,500 on Thursday, July 10, 2009;
· $1,500 on Friday, August 7, 2009, after completion of the Program evaluation and exit interview.
ELIGIBILTY
The Program is open to law students who (1) have completed their second year (or equivalent) of law school; (2) exhibit a diversity of traits and attributes in age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic factors or national origin or demonstrate a commitment to fostering such diversity within the legal community; and (3) demonstrate a strong interest in and/or commitment to representing plaintiffs in civil actions.
Four fellowships will be awarded. The Fellows will be selected based on information provided in the written application materials, including the applicant’s commitment to the goals of diversity and interest in representing plaintiffs in civil actions. Other factors include past work experience and relevant coursework. Applicants selected for consideration based on the written materials will then be personally interviewed by members of the SFTLA Diversity Committee. The Fellows will be selected following the interviews.
