Developing Future Leaders of the Appellate Practice Section
The Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar (“APS”) is a 1500-person organization whose members include civil and criminal lawyers, plaintiff and defense lawyers, and others interested in the appellate process. Our members practice in state and federal courts throughout Florida and the nation. The purpose of the section is to enhance the role and skills of members of The Florida Bar through study, continuing legal education, the dissemination of materials on matters of interest and concern to the membership, and through the exchange of ideas among section members.
APS is committed to recruiting new and diverse lawyers to join, participate, and ultimately serve in leadership positions in APS. To that end, APS has implemented a Fellowship Program to provide subsidies to qualified applicants who express an interest in becoming active in the work and leadership of APS each year. Selected Fellows will work closely with leading appellate attorneys on engaging with APS leadership.
One fellowship will be awarded each year. The Attorney Fellow will serve a two-year term. Attorney Fellows will have the opportunity to gain appellate experience, as, if permitted, they will take on one of APS’s pro bono cases with assistance from their mentor. They will also have the opportunity to elevate their presence in the appellate bar by publishing an article in one of APS’s publications. Our diversity efforts aim to attract members from a wide variety of practice areas. Therefore, although applicants should have an interest in appellate practice, they need not have any experience. Additionally, if the Attorney Fellow’s practice prohibits pro bono representation, APS will permit the Fellow to assist in planning a CLE presentation instead.
Fellowship Program Description
This program will award one fellowship each year.
Terms: Attorney Fellows will serve a two-year term.
Annual Subsidy: Attorney Fellows will receive a subsidy of up to $1500 per year (not to exceed actual out-of-pocket expenses) to help defray the expense of attending APS meetings. Attorney Fellows will also receive complimentary APS membership while they are serving as fellows.
Mentoring: The Fellow will be assigned a mentor, who is a member of the Executive Council, to assist the Fellow in maximizing his or her experience as a Fellow and attending APS meetings and events.
Participation Requirements: Attorney Fellows are required to satisfy the following minimum participation requirements:
- Attend Executive Council meetings at APS meetings in January and June each year, attend APS meeting at DCA Judges Conference one fall during fellowship; optional attendance at APS retreat during other fall (costs of latter not covered by fellowship stipend);
- Serve as an active member of one APS Subcommittee;
- Take on or assist in representation of one of APS’s pro bono cases with supervision from the fellow’s mentor*; and
- Write an article regarding an appellate issue to be published in one of APS’s publications.
*Given the substantial amount of appellate pro bono matters available, it is anticipated that pro bono case opportunities will be available to accommodate any conflict concerns. In the event a conflict cannot be overcome, the Attorney Fellow may instead assist in planning one of the Section’s CLEs.
Each Fellow must prepare a work plan which outlines their chosen pro bono project and article topic and submit it to the Fellowship Committee by August 31 of each year. Fellows are required to update the Fellowship Committee on their projects by February 28.
Applicant Qualifications
The Attorney Fellowship is open to all members of The Florida Bar in good standing who have been practicing for fewer than 5 years.
Application Deadline
Click here for the application form.
Applications and accompanying materials must be submitted by April 15, 2026, by email to Amy Walker, APS Program Administrator, at ajwalker@floridabar.org. Please copy the Fellowship Committee Co-Chairs, Nicholas Lynch (NLynch@pdmiami.com) and Courtney Brewer (cbrewer@law.fsu.edu).
Fellowship Committee Co-Chairs, Courtney Brewer and Nicholas Lynch may be contacted via email for any questions regarding the APS Fellowship Program.
