We are excited to announce that Christina Velazquez, a rising 3L and Miami Public Interest Scholar at University of Miami School of Law, will be returning to Legal Aid for 10 weeks this summer as a Civil Legal Aid Summer Fellow, generously sponsored by Funding Florida Legal Aid (FFLA) and The Florida Bar Family Law Section. “Support of our young lawyers is essential, particularly in a way that may impact them to continue to assist low-income families with legal services as a result of this fellowship,” says Maria Gonzalez, a former Family Law Section chair and current FFLA board member. In addition to providing funding, the Family Law Section will pair students with mentors from the section’s executive council this summer.
At UMLaw, Christina has served on the Legal Advocacy Alternative Break (LAAB) Planning Committee and as a Miami Law Ambassador. She received the HOPE Excellence in Legal Advocacy 1L Award for completing over 90 hours of pro bono work. Last Fall, she externed with Dade Legal Aid in the Family Law Unit helping staff attorneys research pivotal issues in family law cases, preparing memorandums, and observing hearings to thereafter provide observations and feedback. This summer she will continue to learn how to navigate family law cases from beginning to end, including how to deal directly with clients, how to gather all necessary information and how to formulate legal strategies in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the Family Law process as a whole. “Christina is wonderful to work with. She is extremely intelligent, self driven and passionate about serving those that need us most in our community,” says Evita Llaguno-Feria, Senior Supervising Attorney of the Family Law Department at Dade Legal Aid. Each fellow will receive a $9,000 stipend and attend an orientation in May. In addition to funding, the Family Law Section will provide a mentor from the section’s executive council.