By JUDGE ROCHELLE CURLEY 12th Judicial Circuit CDI Advisory Board
The Sarasota County Bar Association Council for Diversity and Inclusion is pleased to announce that law student Raven Peters is the recipient of the 2021 Richard R . Garland Diversity Scholarship . Raven was born and raised in Sarasota and is a graduate of Booker High School . She is entering her third year of law school at William & Mary in Williamsburg , Va ., where she is an accomplished student . She is a current member of the William & Mary National Trial Team and the Bill of Rights Journal , wherein her Note was recently selected for publication .
Raven is grateful for the scholarship and the opportunity to work as a summer intern alongside highly experienced litigators at the law firm of Shumaker , Loop & Kendrick , LLP . She is confident that her summer internship will expose her to different areas of the law and she is prepared to meet new challenges .
COUNCIL FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Law student receives diversity scholarship
By RUDY VAZMINA , Esq . Chair , CDI Scholarship Committee
The SCBA ’ s Council for Diversity and Inclusion ’ s success in our mission to promote diversity and inclusion in the Sarasota legal community requires collaboration . In addition to the CDI ’ s membership , a collaboration with SCBA individual members and firms , Florida law universities and colleges , local high school programming , and local Florida law school alumni is vital .
Each year the CDI awards at least one $ 5,000.00 scholarship to a well-qualified first or second law student of a diverse , minority background . A key additional factor is the opportunity for the selected law student to participate in a summer intern program with a local law firm or other legal entity . After a year of disruption caused by the pandemic from our traditional approach , our 2021 awardee , Ms . Peters will have that in-person work experience with Shumaker , Loop & Kendrick , LLP .
Raven Peters is the recipient of the 2021 Richard R . Garland Diversity Scholarship .
Each law student knows how valuable this opportunity is for their legal career planning . For us it becomes a matter of investment to ensure that the selected student learns more about our local law community and feels welcomed . We encourage our local legal community to participate in scheduled summer intern events to advance our mission . Obviously , there is an annual need for local law firms to participate in our program by extending an offer to a summer intern . The CDI arranges interviews for interested law firms of selected law students to determine a good match . This year , the CDI ’ s application cycle begins July 1 , 2021 . This change provides local firms an opportunity to consider our selected candidates in their hiring schedule for summer interns . By participating in our program , law firms will see and experience firsthand the many benefits of a diverse workforce .
To attract the most qualified law students , outreach to Florida law schools is essential , particularly with
After graduation , she would like to return to Sarasota where she has her mother and a long list of supportive family members , friends , and mentors .
Raven set her sights on the legal profession at a young age . At a school-sponsored career fair , she was presented with the opportunity to act as defense counsel on a case . Her writing skills and eloquence led her to win her case . Prior to law school , she had the opportunity to work in the Law Offices of Richard Saba in Sarasota . He has become a mentor throughout her law school career . These early experiences set in motion her clear path to law school .
At the University of Central Florida , Raven studied Arabic and majored in International Relations
CORRECTION where she became interested in international human rights . She has interned at the Department of State in Washington , D . C ., and last summer , she earned a coveted internship with the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa where she worked to promote human and economic rights for women throughout Africa . Perceiving and understanding the disparity suffered by women throughout Africa helped her to determine that she wanted to make the world a better place . Her ultimate goal is to protect the vulnerable and to advocate for the voiceless .
When she has free time , you can find Raven dancing , surfing , or hiking . Raven is also a lover of history and writing . When she is finished with her assigned readings , you may find her nose-deep in a historical non-fiction book . Raven credits the support of her mother , family , friends , and mentors for the achievements in her life . It is clear that Raven is well-accomplished and has an exceptional legal career ahead of her .
About the Richard R . Garland Endowed Scholarship
We need to realize and embrace the benefits of inclusion for our legal community . our revised application date . While the CDI does all it can to make the pertinent law school departments aware of our scholarship program , Florida law school alumni can make a direct appeal to their school contacts for a more personal touch .
Now more than ever , we need to realize and embrace the benefits of inclusion for our legal community . Whether it is interviewing our scholarship recipients for a summer internship opportunity , welcoming
See SCHOLARSHIP , Page 15
In last month ’ s Docket , we profiled Karimu Hill-Harvey , Chair of the Council for Diversity & Inclusion . However , we neglected to include her firm name and contact information . Those are as follows : Karimu Hill-Harvey , Esq ., LL . M Mediation2Resolution , LLC www . mediation2resolution . com Email : karimuhillharvey @ yahoo . com
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