Thank you to all our AOIP Donors and Firm Participants

The Advancing Opportunities Internship Program (AOIP) was established in 2010 to provide traditionally underrepresented law students with the opportunity to obtain practical experience in the legal profession and gain exposure to the Palm Beach County legal community while working with local law firms and government agencies. Prior to 2010, the program was known as the Minority Law Clerk Program and focused on providing students with historically disadvantaged backgrounds legal work experience. In expanding the program, the Palm Beach County Bar Association and Committee for Diversity and Inclusion intend that AOIP interns will gain valuable work experience, be able to network with local attorneys and members of the judiciary, have opportunities at future employment, and ultimately decide to begin their legal career in Palm Beach County—continuing our broader goal of creating an inclusive Bar Association that reflects the richness of Palm Beach County and the larger community.

Since its creation, law firms from many different practice areas and many different sizes have participated as employers. State and local government agencies also have participated and employed AOIP interns. A few previous AOIP interns have been offered opportunities for future, permanent employment due to their participation in the program. However, future employment is not guaranteed. Many AOIP interns, employed or not, chose upon graduation to relocate to Palm Beach County and are now active members of the Bar Association. We invite each Florida law school to promote our program and have their students participate in this year’s Advancing Opportunities Internship Program.

Law firms that want to participate may still support the AOIP through other means. This includes making a financial donation that will sponsor a student’s expenses and travel or provide a salary for an intern employed by a government agency. Please help support this program by making a donation using the form below.