Florida Supreme Court Fellows Program

About the Program

The Florida Supreme Court (FSC) Fellows Program (Program) provides third-year law students a unique opportunity to learn about the operation of Florida's highest court and gain experience as future lawyers and leaders in their communities. The one-semester Program is designed to engage students with hands-on work experience that cannot be obtained in a classroom setting. The Program offers students the ability to apply acquired legal knowledge to the work of the judicial branch, and also affords the opportunity to network and learn from a multitude of state court system professionals.  The Program is designed for students who have an interest in the court system, clerkships, or appellate practice, and who wish to broaden their knowledge through dialogue and exchange with participants in those systems.

Duties

FSC Fellows will work as an intern to an individual justice, a central staff intern working for all of the justices, an intern working for the clerk of court and the administrative justice, or as an intern for the Office of the State Courts Administrator General Counsel.  Duties will include reviewing and making recommendations on petitions for discretionary review, attorney discipline matters, and extraordinary writ petitions; conducting legal research; and 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.

Eligibility Requirements

•    Attend a Florida law school; or, if attending a law school out of state, have been a Florida resident immediately prior to enrolling in such school.
•    Be classified as a third-year (3L) student during their time in the Program.
•    Be in the top 25 percent 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 their law school 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.

Rate of Pay/Hours of Work

Fellows will receive $15.75 per hour and will work up to 20 hours per week. Work will primarily be performed during regular business hours and will include in-office work, specialized seminars, and coordinated events. In order to ensure full participation, Fellows must reside in the Tallahassee area during the Program. 

Credit Hours

Participating law schools will independently determine, based upon their academic requirements, how many credit hours a school will grant for participation in the Program. Fellows may also enroll in remote classes with their law school or may elect to participate as a visiting law student at Florida State University (FSU) College of Law while participating in the Program (subject to FSU’s requirements and policies). 

Tuition or Stipend Benefit

Fellows may receive tuition assistance of up to 18 hours per semester at Florida in-state graduate tuition rates. Fellows who have received tuition waivers from their law school for participation in the Program, or who are on scholarship may, in lieu of tuition assistance, elect to receive a monthly stipend of $750 during their time in the Program. 

How to Apply

Application information for the Spring 2025 program will be forthcoming.  

For more information about this program, please email FSCFellows@flcourts.org