Law News Releases
Three FAMU Law Students Selected as Justice John Paul Stevens Fellows
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For Immediate Release
Photo Release
June 20, 2023
ORLANDO, Fla – Three Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law students are recipients of the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship. Pedro Juarbe, Rosalyn Monroe, and Lauryn Pruitt received the awards.
First generation graduate student and Puerto Rican native Pedro Juarbe has a summer internship with the Office of the State Attorney in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
“I have always wanted to find a way to help my community and I believe I found the perfect way by working for public interest organizations,” said Juarbe.
Marietta, Georgia native Lauryn Pruitt is honored to be named a John Paul Stevens Fellow. “I am passionate about advocating for people whose voices have been historically silenced,” said Pruitt. “I am currently employed as a certified legal intern at the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and I plan to work in the public interest sector in the future.”
The Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship Program provides grants allowing students at participating law schools to work in unpaid public interest law positions during the summer.
Rosalyn Monroe is interning with the Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network and is passionate about helping victims. “Prior to starting law school, I worked as a domestic violence victims advocate. It was rewarding providing assistance and safety support resources to individuals navigating family trauma,” said Monroe. “Providing legal support to victims of violent crimes gives me the opportunity to be a safe source of support.
As Rattlers for Justice, the FAMU Law recipients are deeply passionate about making a difference in the lives of those needing legal help.
“Our Rattlers for Justice are perfect for the John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship because they are using their legal skills to address institutional inequities while serving those too often excluded from or ignored by the legal system,” said FAMU Law Clinic Director Mark Dorosin.
In 2021, the John Paul Stevens Fellowship Foundation expanded the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship program in partnership with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with law schools. The partnership includes Florida A&M University College of Law, Howard University School of Law, North Carolina Central University School of Law, Southern University Law Center, Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law.
These law schools are among the nation’s most diverse in terms of faculty and students. They are well-known for their commitment to public interest and preparing a diverse group of law students for leadership.
The Paul Stevens Fellows from the HBCUs are committed, talented individuals who are working at a wide range of public interest organizations in both the public and nonprofit sectors this summer, and they join a national cohort of Stevens Fellows.