The Florida Supreme Court (FSC) Fellows Program

About the Program

The Florida Supreme Court (FSC) Fellows Program provides 3L students a unique opportunity to develop the skills of a law clerk and learn about the operation of Florida's highest court. The Program is designed for students who have an interest in clerkships or appellate practice and who wish to broaden their knowledge through dialogue and exchange with Florida Supreme Court justices and others in the judicial system.

The Experience

Fellows work for an individual justice, for all the justices as a central staff law clerk, for the clerk of court and the administrative justice, or for the Office of the State Courts Administrator General Counsel.  Duties include:

• reviewing and making recommendations on petitions for discretionary review, attorney discipline matters, and extraordinary writ petitions
• conducting legal research
• preparing memoranda on pending cases 

Fellows will also have the opportunity to attend oral argument; discuss cases with staff attorneys and justices; assist in the drafting of orders and opinions; and attend a variety of special lectures, group discussions, and training sessions. 

The Program is a paid externship position for nine (9) credits a semester that also provides for a tuition or monthly stipend benefit (approval for financial benefit pending).

Contact

For more information about the Program, please contact Amy Perez, Interim Assistant Dean, Office of Career and Professional Development, at aperez@law.miami.edu.

• Application

  HOW TO APPLY

  Please visit https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/Employment/Fellows-Program to apply. 

  • The application for the Spring 2023 FSC Fellows Program will close on October 10, 2022.
  • The application for the Fall 2023-Spring 2024 FSC Fellows Program will close on December 1, 2022.

  The FSC Fellows Program Application Packet will require:

  • Completed Application
  • Resume
  • Recommendation Letters
  • Transcripts
  • Writing Sample
  • Release for Criminal History Record Check (Level 2)

• Eligibility Requirements

  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  Applicants must: 

  • Be classified as a third-year (3L) student during their time in the Program.
  • Be in the top 25% of their class.
  • Obtain recommendations from at least two individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s academic performance, work experience, and/or overall ability to participate in the Program. (At least one recommendation letter must be obtained from a faculty member.)
  • Be certified by Miami Law as being of good character and competent legal ability to perform as an FSC Fellow.
  • Obtain a letter of clearance as to character and fitness from the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.

  Applicants selected to participate in either Program will also be required to submit to a Level 2 Criminal History Record Check.

• Pay, Tuition, and Credit Hours

  RATE OF PAY / HOURS OF WORK

  Fellows will receive $15.00 per hour and will work up to 30 hours per week during the Program’s duration. Work will primarily be performed during regular business hours and will include in-office work, specialized seminars, and coordinated events. Fellows must reside in the Tallahassee area during the Program.

  CREDIT HOURS

  FSC Fellows will receive 9 credits per semester through the Externship Program.

  TUITION OR STIPEND BENEFIT

  Fellows can receive tuition assistance at the in-state rate of $638 per credit hour up to 18-hours per semester; totaling up to $11,484 for the Spring 2023 Program or $22,968 for the Fall 2023-Spring 2024 Program.

  Alternatively, in lieu of tuition assistance, Fellows can elect to receive a monthly stipend of $750 during their time in the Program.