About the Fellowship

The San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (SFTLA) Diversity Committee has established the Trial Advocacy Diversity Fellowship Program to introduce a diverse group of 1L or 2L law students committed to furthering diversity in the legal field to the plaintiffs’ bar and to SFTLA. The program will allow students to observe and gain hands-on experience with the work of Bay Area trial attorneys in this summer-long mentoring program.

Fellows will shadow attorneys in three Mentor law firms for 3 to 4 weeks each, with the opportunity to attend depositions, hearings, settlement proceedings, and possibly even trials with their mentors. Fellows will also have the opportunity to work on short-duration projects and an array of relevant casework. While Mentor firms vary by practice area and size, all represent plaintiffs in civil actions. Practice areas include personal injury, employment, civil rights, and consumer law.

Responsibilities

Fellows will be asked to commit a minimum of 40 hours per week for 10 weeks between June and August. They will primarily shadow senior attorneys and secondarily assist in discrete projects within their Mentor firms. The Fellowship aims to provide law students with the opportunity to observe a number of different trial lawyers during different aspects of litigation, including conducting depositions, attending hearings, meeting with clients, and possibly sitting in on trials.

At the end of the program, Fellows will be asked to complete a written evaluation.

Fellowship Dates

• Rotation 1: June 1st - June 19th
• Rotation 2: June 22nd - July 17th
• Rotation 3: July 20th - August 7th

Compensation

Participants in SFTLA's 2026 Trial Advocacy Diversity Fellowship Program will receive a stipend of $7,500 for the program, to be paid in installments.

Qualifications

The program is open to law students who:

1. Have completed their first or second year (or equivalent) of law school.
2. Committed to fostering diversity within the legal community.
3. Demonstrate a strong interest in representing plaintiffs in civil actions.

The Selection Process

Four Fellowships will be awarded in total. The fellows will be selected based on written information provided in their applications, including the applicants’ commitment to diversity and representing plaintiffs in civil actions. Other factors include past work experience and relevant coursework.

Applicants selected for consideration will be interviewed by members of the SFTLA Diversity Committee shortly following the application deadline.

SFTLA was proud to partner with the following Mentor Firms in 2025:

• Gomerman Bourn & Associates
• Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli & Brewer
• Law Office of Che L. Hashim
• Oksenendler Law
• Pfeiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise LLP
• Pillsbury & Coleman, LLP
• Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP
• Stebner Gertler & Guadagni
• The Veen Firm
• Wolford Wayne LLP

The 2027 Summer Trial Advocacy Fellowship application will open in the Fall of 2026.