Scholarships

2015 LEESFIELD/FAWL LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED

Miami, FL, December 2, 2015-   For the 19th consecutive year, Leesfield & Partners and the Leesfield Family Foundation awarded the Leesfield/Florida Association of Women Lawyers (Miami-Dade) Law Student Scholarship to Jessica Satinoff, a third-year law student at Florida International University School of Law.   The scholarship was presented during the 33rd Annual Judicial Reception and Scholarship Presentations event held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami, FL.   Ms. Satinoff is the Executive Comments Editor for FIU Law Review and serves as a Certified Legal Intern at Dade Legal Aid, a non-profit organization which provides legal assistance to impoverished families and children, and victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

During the event, FAWL’s President Ileana Cruz, recognized Chair Ira Leesfield with the Honorable Theodore Klein Award.   The award honors the memory and work of the late U.S. Magistrate Judge Theodore Klein cited as one of the “sharpest legal minds in South Florida.”   “This award exemplifies a special meaning this year, as the Leesfield Family Foundation celebrates its 25-year anniversary.   We look forward to working with FAWL each year and providing scholarships for dedicated women who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue their career in law,” said Ira Leesfield. 
                           
In the past, FAWL has recognized Ira Leesfield by presenting him with The Friend of FAWL Award and The Philanthropist Award for the much-needed funding Leesfield & Partners and the Leesfield Family Foundation has provided over the past 25 years. 

FAWL is a volunteer bar association dedicated to actively promoting the advancement of women in the legal profession, expanding the leadership role of its members in the community at large and promoting women’s rights.  Its membership is comprised of lawyers, judges, and professionals within the business community.

LEESFIELD FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN LAWYERS NAME RECIPIENT OF ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP

MIAMI – December 4, 2008 – The Leesfield Family Charitable Foundation announces it has awarded a $1,000 law school scholarship to Doris Torres, a third year law student at Florida International University and president of the Hispanic Law Students Association. The scholarship was granted in association with the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL) and presented today at its 26th Annual Judicial Reception and Scholarship Presentations event at the Ritz-Carlton in Coconut Grove.

“The Leesfield Foundation is proud to support FAWL and its commitment to help exemplary female law students like Doris fulfill their ambition to pursue a career in law,” said Patricia Kennedy, a partner with Leesfield & Partners. "We look forward to witnessing her future successes and will continue to seek and support more worthy law students throughout the years to come."

Founded by Ira Leesfield, managing partner of Miami-based trial law firm Leesfield & Partners, the Leesfield Family Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation designed to support organizations that work to enrich and enhance the lives of the underprivileged throughout South Florida and the world. Over the past decade, the Foundation has provided nearly $1 million in funding to charitable organizations throughout South Florida.

FAWL is a professional organization dedicated to promoting the advancement of women in the legal profession. Its membership is comprised of lawyers, judges, and professionals within the business community. The Leesfield Foundation is credited as being the first law firm affiliate to fund a FAWL scholarship. This year marks its 13th consecutive year of participation.

The Foundation supports a number of additional scholarship funds, among of which include the Harold Foster Memorial Scholarship at Nova Southeastern University and the Dan Pearson Scholarship at the University of Miami School of Law. Since 1994, the Foundation has also endowed the Leesfield/American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) Student Scholarship to provide assistance to students who exemplify a high commitment to trial advocacy and public justice.

On December 22, 2006, The Leesfield Family Foundation, in conjunction with The Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL) Miami-Dade Chapter, recently granted a $1,000 scholarship to Christina Anderson, a third year law student at St. Thomas University.

Founded by Ira Leesfield, managing partner of Miami-based trial law firm Leesfield & Partners, the Leesfield Family Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation designed to support organizations that work to enrich and enhance the lives of the underprivileged throughout South Florida and the world. The Foundation has provided nearly $1 million in funding to charitable organizations throughout South Florida over the past decade.

Anderson, who is working towards earning a dual degree in law and a masters in marriage and family therapy at St. Thomas University, was presented with the grant at the FAWL luncheon at the Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove this week. A Native American Indian, Anderson is an active member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a single mother. She received a BS in computer Technology Management from Oklahoma City University where she graduated with honors. She is also the founder of Forum Quality Care Services, Inc., a Florida non-profit corporation, which provides services and resource links to the elderly, disabled, and abused children and adults.

"Through the support of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, commendable female law students like Christina are able to continue working toward their goals within the legal field," said Patricia Kennedy, a partner with Leesfield & Partners. "We're extremely pleased to present Christina with this scholarship and will continue to seek and support worthy law students throughout the years to come."

Christina Anderson (left) and Partner Patricia Kennedy (right)

At the 20th Annual Judicial Reception of the Miami-Dade Florida Association of Women Lawyers held on January 23, 2003 in Miami, Florida, the Leesfield/FAWL Law Student Scholarship was presented to first-year law student Christine Palin, who attends Florida International University Law School. This scholarship is awarded to law students who exhibit the highest commitment to trial advocacy and public justice. This year marks the sixth anniversary of the endowment by the Leesfield Family Charitable Foundation to the Miami-Dade Florida Association of Women Lawyers.

Left: Ira Leesfield,
Center: Scholarship recipient, Christine Palin
Right: Patricia Kennedy

The Leesfield Family Foundation, in conjunction with Leesfield & Partners, is pleased to announce the re-endowment of the LEESFIELD/ATLA Law Student Scholarship through the year 2010. Ira Leesfield, founder of the ATLA Law Student Section, originally endowed the Leesfield/ATLA Law Student Scholarship in 1994. It was created in recognition of ATLA Law Student members who exemplify a high commitment to trial advocacy and public justice. Every year, the award is presented at the ATLA Annual Convention, thus providing financial support to ATLA law student members to attend the annual conventions. The annual conventions offer the law student members many challenging opportunities to learn, network and establish professional relationships by participating in workshops and events designed specifically for law students, and provided by some of the finest trial lawyers in the country. "From the time we started our Classroom to Courtroom efforts in 1986, it has been remarkable to see the accomplishments of ATLA law students as they enter the world of representing injured clients. I am privileged to be part of this challenging experience," says Ira Leesfield.

Past recipients include Marythea Irving, who distinguished herself as an outstanding student at Suffolk University. In 1995, Ann Richards, Governor of Texas, presented the award to Marythea.

Ira Leesfield (left), Marythea Irving (center), recipient of the 1995 scholarship,
and Ann Richards, then governor of Texas.

In 1996, the scholarship was presented to Debbie Cotton at the Annual Convention in Boston. Debbie, who received her law degree from Western State University, College of Law, demonstrated her remarkable commitment to trial advocacy defending the rights of children through such organizations as Legal Education for Youth, while serving as President of the Student ATLA Chapter.

Whitnie Henderson, ATLA Law Student Chapter organizer at the University of San Francisco Law School, received the scholarship in 1997.

Todd A. Walburg, who joined ATLA in 1997 and started an ATLA Law Student Chapter at the University of San Francisco, was one of the recipients of the 1998 scholarship.

Ira Leesfield (left) and Todd Walburg, recipient of the 1998 scholarship.

Every year, the Selection Committee is faced with the difficult task of choosing a winner from an overwhelmingly impressive group of candidates. This year, the Leesfield Family Foundation and ATLA honored Josephine Ko, a second-year student at Duke University School of Law, where she has distinguished herself as a staunch advocate of the under-represented. Recognized for her dedication and excellent service, Josephine was selected Project Director of the Duke Innocence Project which reviews claims of actual innocence by prisoners in North Carolina. Her involvement with ATLA includes attendance at the "Nuts and Bolts of Effective Trial Advocacy Seminar, conducted by ATLA in the Fall of 2002. Josephine epitomizes ATLA's commitment to preserving victim's rights. Ira Leesfield presented the 2003 Leesfield/ATLA Law Student Scholarship to her at the Annual Convention held in San Francisco last month.

Ira Leesfield and Josephine Ko, recipient of the 2003 Leesfield/ATLA Law Student Scholarship at the ATLA 2003 Summer Convention in San Francisco.

Josephine Ko, recipient of the 2003 Leesfield/ATLA Law Student Scholarship (Left), Ira Leesfield (Center) and Moses Kim, recipient of the 2002 Leesfield/ATLA Law Student Scholarship at the ATLA 2003 Summer Convention in San Francisco.

The scholarship is available to first and second year ATLA Law Student Members. The criteria for the scholarship are a statement of financial need; and a 500-word written request substantiating the applicant's commitment to preserving the civil justice system. For more information, please contact us online at info@leesfield.com