Estate Planning Council Diversity Fellowship and Award
Deadline to apply: Monday, April 3, 2023
Purpose, Eligibility and Selection Process:
The Estate Planning Council Diversity Fellowship and Award is funded by contributions from Gassman, Crotty & Denicolo, P.A. and the Diversity Committee of the members of the Suncoast and Pinellas County Estate Planning Councils. The purpose of this one-year fellowship is to: introduce estate planning and elder law as a viable career opportunity for students of color; and to promote serving communities of color, which have been underserved in the areas of elder law and estate planning.
Students of color in their second or third years, in good academic standing, are eligible to apply for this one-year fellowship.
Applications for this fellowship and award will be reviewed by the Stetson Financial Aid and Awards Committee. The Faculty Committee will select two Fellows.
Fellows will be selected for the 2023-24 academic year (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters). Fellows will be invited and encouraged to attend estate planning council meetings immediately.
Fellows will receive recognition as Fellows and receive a financial award of $1,500 per semester. The award will be paid through the Stetson University College of Law Business Office.
Additional Information:
Fellows will work together and attend one of the local Estate Planning Councils, by attending the respective group’s monthly breakfast or lunch meetings. They will meet, shadow, and work with lawyer members of Estate Planning Councils.
Each student Fellow will be assigned two mentors who are active in the estate planning community and will be expected to have regular meetings with their mentors.
Each Fellow, working with their mentor, will create an educational presentation on estate planning and end-of-life documents. The Fellows will arrange for the presentation to be given at a location where people of color gather (for example Community Centers or Churches). In addition to creating the program, the Fellows will be responsible for scheduling and making the presentation. They will be accompanied by their mentor when they do the presentation. Hours spent creating the presentation, arranging the presentation, and giving the presentation will count as legal pro bono for Stetson’s pro bono requirement.
At the end of the fellowship, the Fellows will submit a report summarizing their activities and the skills they acquired or enhanced (such as communication skills, networking with the community, career opportunities in estate planning and elder law) to the local Suncoast Estate Planning Council liaison and the director of the Center for Excellence in Elder Law.
Fellows may also (at their choosing) be provided with paid clerking positions with Council members.
How to apply:
Interested students should submit a current resume and letter of interest to [email protected] by Monday, April 3, 2023.
Please indicate your 800 number and current Law school GPA in your resume.
Recipients will be announced in mid-April.