UF Law Students Receive Nearly $1 Million in Financial Support During Pandemic

More than 280 University of Florida Levin College of Law students received financial support from the law school this summer, totaling nearly $1 million.

UF Law continued its robust summer public interest stipend program, this year offering summer stipends to 192 students, for a total of more than $863,000.  These stipends of $4,000 for rising 2Ls and $5,000 for rising 3Ls helped cover living expenses for students engaging in unpaid legal work in government offices, nonprofits, and other public interest placements this summer.

UF Law also provided $100,000 to an additional 90 students experiencing financial distress because of the pandemic.  UF Law applied for funding from AccessLex, which generously provided a $25,000 grant to the law school for emergency student support.  UF Law Dean Laura Rosenbury immediately contributed an additional $25,000 from her personal funds, and UF Law Tax Professor Neil Buchanan followed Dean Rosenbury’s contribution with a gift of $25,001.  Several alumni also contributed to the emergency fund to help reach the $100,000 goal.

“The pandemic created additional financial stress for many of our students, as they traveled to care for sick loved ones, lost part-time jobs, or assisted family members who had lost their jobs,” Dean Rosenbury said. “I am glad we were able to provide some relief for students incurring these unexpected expenses.”

Dean Rosenbury has also contributed an additional $75,000 to support student scholarships at UF Law.  Her most recent gift of $25,000 supported the HBCU Pathway to Law Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides full-tuition scholarships to graduates of HBCUs seeking to enroll at UF Law.  The law school recently launched this program with lead gifts totaling more than $1.1 million from Yolanda Cash Jackson (JD 90) and Hugh Culverhouse (JD 74).  Learn more here.