Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine, P.L. to Award 2023 H.T. Smith Legal Studies Scholarship for Minority Law School Students
The law firm teamed up with Miami’s legal legend H.T. Smith to launch the scholarship in 2021.
South Florida-based litigation firm Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine P.L. has launched its 2023 Annual H.T. Smith Legal Studies Scholarship to support minority law school students who have a strong connection with the South Florida community. Now in its third year, the law firm launched the scholarship in honor of H.T. Smith, founding Director of the Trial Advocacy Program at Florida International University (FIU) College of Law, with the intention of creating a more diverse workforce and South Florida legal industry.
One scholarship recipient will earn $10,000 in financial assistance to attend an eligible law school in Florida and will receive a summer clerkship at the Kluger Kaplan law firm. Following their law school graduation and completion of the Florida Bar exam, the scholarship winner will also be considered for an attorney position at Kluger Kaplan. Eligible universities include the University of Miami, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, St. Thomas University, Florida State University and the University of Florida.
Preference for award of the H.T. Smith Legal Studies Scholarship is given to students entering their second year of law school who come from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups, and who are actively involved in giving back to the South Florida community through volunteer efforts or participation among local organizations. By selecting students who exhibit both scholastic achievement and a commitment to improving our community, this scholarship helps to create a pipeline for future leaders who will continue to promote diversity, inclusion, and social change. The H.T. Smith Legal Studies Scholarship is awarded to one student annually.
“Kluger Kaplan recognized that the legal community must do more to create opportunities for minority groups. The H.T. Smith Legal Studies Scholarship is intended to support minority law school students who have a strong connection with the South Florida community, while encouraging other firms to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal industry,” said Alan J. Kluger, founding partner at Kluger Kaplan.
“Advancing diversity, inclusion and a feeling of belonging in our legal community requires intentional, coordinated, positive, action. Kluger Kaplan is providing a blueprint for other law firms to create similar programs and sending a message that this type of holistic support for the advancement of racial justice will not happen by accident. It will only happen if people act with intentionality,” said H.T. Smith.
Smith is a nationally-renown trial lawyer who is charged with blazing trails as Miami’s first African American assistant public defender, first African American assistant county attorney, and the founding president of the Black Lawyers Association. Smith’s entry into private practice marked the launch of Downtown Miami’s first Black-owned law firm. Smith also led the Boycott Miami Campaign in response to local politicians snubbing Nelson Mandela when he visited Miami in 1990.
To apply for the scholarship, applicants must submit their résumé, current school transcript, and a 500-word personal statement discussing who they are and why they are applying for the scholarship to info@klugerkaplan.com with the subject line “H.T. Smith Legal Studies Scholarship.” The deadline to submit for the 2023-2024 academic year is July 1, 2023.
Finalists will be requested to join the Kluger Kaplan law firm for an interview. Scholarships will be funded directly to the recipient’s law school and will be applied towards the student’s tuition for the Fall 2023-2024 academic year. Any balance will be given directly to the student if there is another scholarship that covers his or her tuition.
Please contact Idays Guallar at iguallar@klugerkaplan.com with any questions you may have regarding the scholarship or application requirements.