Student Internship Grant Program

2024 Summer Grant Application Deadline: March 28, 2024

The Executive Council of the City, County and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar provides annual grants to local government attorney offices in the State of Florida to fund paid college student or law student internships. The funds are awarded from an established pool of budgeted funds to those applicants that best demonstrate that the student will be afforded an opportunity to gain insight into the practice of local government law. 

Eligible applicants are limited to attorney’s offices of counties, cities, school boards and special taxing districts.  Attorneys and/or law firms representing these entities as outside counsel are not eligible to apply.  The student must be a full or part-time college or law school student.

If your office would like to apply for this grant, please fill out THIS APPLICATION and send it by the annual deadline listed above to:

Gabrielle Hermesman
Program Administrator
The Florida Bar
651 East Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300
Phone: 850-561-5631
[email protected]

NOTE: Submission of a complete grant application does not guarantee the award of a grant.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

The City, County and Local Government Law Section of the Florida Bar seeks to enhance students’ educational experience in the areas of local government law, the process of the law, civic responsibility and interest in the study and practice of law as a career by providing grants for student internships. These internships will afford students an incomparable opportunity to view firsthand, and to gain insight into, the practice of local government law.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Stipends:  Grant amounts depend on number of applications received and the annual maximum budget for stipends established by the Executive Council, which is currently $50,000.00.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The grant may only be used for the student internships as a stipend to the student and for expenses directly associated with and benefiting the internship. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Local government offices eligible to apply are limited to attorney’s offices of counties, cities, school boards and special taxing districts.  Attorneys and/or law firms representing these entities as outside counsel are not eligible to apply.  The student must be a full or part-time college or law school student or a high school graduate with confirmed admission to a college or university.

Documentation:  An accounting of the use of monies must be made and submitted, along with a student evaluation of the internship, to the Executive Council within 60 days of the completion of the internship.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Application Procedure:  Applications must be completed and received by the annual deadline established by the Section. All applications must be made and submitted to the program administrator for the Executive Council of the City, County and Local Government Law Section.

Award Procedure:  Applications for stipends recommended for approval are awarded directly by the Executive Council of the City, County and Local Government Law Section to the applicant, subject to the availability and appropriation of funds.

Timeline:  Approval of grant applications will be announced no later than June 1 of each year, unless another date is established by the Executive Council. Successful applicants will be required to sign a grant agreement.   Funds must be expended within the indicated time frame in the agreement or returned to the Section. 

Please contact the Grants Committee Chair with questions!