Applicants selected as fellows are expected to attend all program events. If your schedule does not allow you to attend a live training, you must watch the training video within two weeks.
What will this look like?
Time/location commitment:
Though the pandemic creates uncertainty, Fellows should expect that over the 10-month program “year,” they will spend at least 65 hours in the training, clinical pro bono service, and required events. Around 20 of those hours will be outside core business hours.
Beyond this, each Fellow will connect with a mentor, based on mutual convenience, several times in the year, remotely or in person. Fellows may also be invited to optional events, and will have a debrief call at the end of the year.
For any live clinics and trainings offered are likely to be in downtown Baltimore.
Content: In-court practice
The program seeks to give Fellows the experience of in-court practice (particularly in rent court), and the confidence that goes with that experience.
Content: Other lawyering skills
Our immigration clinic provides an excellent mentored introduction to client interviewing and counseling.
The skills trainings will be focused on a) ethical tips for remote practice; b) District Court advocacy; c) basics of experts; and d) basics of depositions.
The last practice unit will give Fellows a choice of service but may include more in-court work (rent escrow case work or consumer protection); or more transactional or counseling work (estate planning or other home preservation projects).
Content: Mentoring and community
Mentoring will include at least four interactions (remote or in person) and at least one substantive interaction. A substantive interaction means either attending an Academy service clinic with the Fellow, or inviting the Fellow to join the mentor for a significant event.
We anticipate optional Fellows-only social events, to allow current and past Fellows to meet and build community and professional relationships in a less formal setting.
Focus: Serving in a crisis
2020 is distinctive because of the pandemic. While we have lost some predictability, we have gained an opportunity to be at the forefront of learning to serve in new ways.
Focus: The habit of pro bono
The Academy seeks to build patterns of pro bono service into the Fellows’ lives. At the end of the year, we interview each Fellow and help them create pro bono service goals for next year.
Applying
As part of the application, all applicants are asked to list a supportive reference (a former or current supervisor, law faculty, or another Maryland lawyer or mentor). At the end of the year, we will invite each completing Fellow’s reference to the recognition event.
Basis of Selection
Applicants will be selected on the basis of demonstrated commitment to professionalism and ability to clearly articulate what they hope to accomplish on behalf of others, and what they hope to gain from the program. Some preference will be given to lawyers in private practice.