Applications for scholarships open in December 2025. Check back soon!
MDFAWL Foundation awards scholarships annually on the basis of academic merit, community involvement, financial need, and personal essay. Scholarships are paid directly to the recipient. Scholarships are awarded without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. Scholarships awarded are based upon the availability of funds and additional qualifying criteria.
CRITERIA
- Applicant must be a currently enrolled law student in an accredited law school within the state of Florida;
- Applicant must be in good academic standing;
- Applicant must submit a complete application by no later than Friday, February 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
legacy scholarships
Patricia Kennedy was a trailblazer in the Women’s Rights Movement. In the 1970s and ’80s, she co-founded the Women’s Emergency Network and chaired the 1984 National Organization for Women Convention in Miami Beach, featuring Geraldine Ferraro as keynote speaker and drawing more than 10,000 attendees. A former Xerox executive turned attorney, Pat joined Miami-Dade FAWL in law school, helping launch its first scholarship fundraiser—later becoming one of its first recipients. As a partner at Leesfield & Partners, she combined intellect and southern charm to champion fairness in and out of the courtroom. Her legacy continues through the thriving scholarship fund she helped create.
patricia margaret kennedy
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Jean Perwin was a leading intellectual property lawyer in Miami and served as Chairperson and longtime Board Member of the Florida Bar Committee devoted to her field of practice. Her lifelong commitment to Florida arts and culture was reflected in her service on the Board of Directors of the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach and Ballet Gamonet, and as Docent of the Miami Beach Design Preservation League. Throughout her career, she was an advisor and mentor to many law students and young lawyers along the way.
jean perwin memorial scholarship
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Judge Linda Dakis, a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law (1976), was a civil trial lawyer before being appointed to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit bench in 1990 by Governor Bob Martinez. She led the creation of the Domestic Violence Court and raised awareness for domestic violence. She was a featured judge on Court TV’s Instant Justice domestic violence hearings. Judge Dakis later became administrative judge of the civil court, a position she held until her untimely death. Throughout her career, she was a champion for abused women and served in helping South American countries draft laws to better protect the legal rights of battered women.
Judge Linda dakis
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Judge Shelley Kravitz served as a Miami-Dade County Court judge from 1993-2018. She also served as President and Legislative Chair of the statewide Conference of County Court Judges; Chair of the Miami-Dade canvassing board, responsible for overseeing elections including the infamous Bush-Gore recount in 2000; and President of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (1989-1990). Prior to becoming a judge, she was a school teacher in Miami-Dade County. Judge Kravitz was a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law.
Judge Shelley Kravitz
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This scholarship honors the legacy of Captain Patricia Schlesinger who was a pioneer for women in law enforcement. She made history as the first female officer in Buffalo to be assigned walking a “beat,” as well as serving as a detective in the Vice, Narcotics and Homicide Units. She was later recognized as being the first female to attain the rank of Captain with the Erie County Sheriff's Department, becoming the highest ranking female officer in the State of New York, where she headed the County's Rape Task Force and later the Department's Training Division.
Capt. patricia schlesinger
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sonia "sunny" yahr
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Judge Amy Karan was a trailblazer in the legal field and a national leader in domestic violence advocacy. As the first Administrative Judge of Miami-Dade County’s Domestic Violence Division, she pioneered specialized courts and championed legislative and judicial reforms to better protect survivors. A dedicated educator and mentor, she inspired countless women in law through compassion and integrity. Her work earned numerous honors, including the Florida Bar’s Visionary Award and the National Judicial College’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Judge Karan’s legacy continues through her daughter, Amber Kornreich, and the many she guided to lead with purpose.
Judge Amy Karan memorial scholarshipSPONSORED BY: JUDGE JASON BLOCH
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Sookie Williams was a dynamo in the Miami community whose determination and charm left a lasting legacy. Moving to Miami in the 1940s as a single mother and widow, she talked her way into a bookkeeping job and rose to head accountant. She later joined the Daily Business Review, overseeing court and public notice pages with precision and pride. A passionate advocate for women in the law, Sookie mentored generations of female judges and attorneys, helped found the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and remained a devoted MDFAWL supporter—attending events and inspiring others well into her 90s.
SOOKIE WILLIAMS memorial scholarshipSPONSORED BY: IRA LEESFIELD, LEEFIELD & PARTNERS, LEESFIELD FAMILY FOUNDATION
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