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As law firms across the nation take steps to boost minority representation in the legal profession, South Florida-based litigation firm Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine PL is expanding its own focus on diversity.
The Firm recently awarded second-year University of Florida Law School student Manoach Deliscar its H.T. Smith Legal Studies Scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year. At the same time, the Firm announced that inaugural scholarship recipient Briana Harris is joining as an associate.
Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Deliscar is a first-generation law student who credits his Haitian heritage as having helped shape his identity and who he is today. Forced to flee his homeland following the devastating earthquake in 2010, Deliscar is no stranger to the challenges that young minorities face and how even the smallest actions can have a monumental impact.
“When reviewing this year’s group of applicants, it was evident from Mr. Deliscar’s background and hard-working nature that he shared similar values to that of our firm and would be an ideal candidate for the scholarship program,” said Alan J. Kluger, founding partner at Kluger Kaplan. “Our goal with the scholarship remains to not only secure qualified candidates, but to focus on diversity and inclusion within our firm for the long-term and also encourage other firms to create similar initiatives.”
Though only in his second year of law school, Deliscar has gained valuable legal experience having previously worked at an immigration law firm in Jacksonville and more recently spending this past summer with Davis Law in Jacksonville where he focused his time on insurance coverage and business litigation. He received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in the Sociology of Social Justice and Policy from the University of Florida.
The scholarship, which was established in 2021 in honor of H.T. Smith, offers eligible minority law school students in Florida $15,000 in financial assistance (a 50 percent increase over previous years), a summer clerkship in Kluger Kaplan’s Miami office, and an opportunity to work as an ssociate at Kluger Kaplan following graduation and after passing the Florida Bar exam.
As the first recipient of the H.T. Smith Scholarship, Harris was able to make the most of the opportunity, having completed the summer clerkship program with Kluger Kaplan and eventually graduating from Florida International University’s College of Law. The firm is welcoming her back full time as an associate this fall where she will be working with attorneys across a variety of practice areas including commercial, complex and real estate litigation.
“I am extremely grateful to have been the inaugural recipient of this scholarship,” Harris said. “It not only helped me financially, but it also helped instill confidence in my abilities and allowed me to focus on my education and pursue other team and journal opportunities without the weight of worrying about securing post-grad employment. I am happy that the firm has continued providing this opportunity for other minority students and I am proud to be a part of this team.”
While in law school, Harris received numerous awards for her work, including the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Legal Skills and Values and Future Award in Contracts.
She served as editor-in-chief of the FIU Law Review and graduated as salutatorian of the Part-time program at FIU College of Law.
Previously she served as a summer law clerk for the Florida Health Justice Project, which engages in comprehensive advocacy to expand health care access and promote health equity for vulnerable Floridians. Harris received her Bachelor of Arts in Medicine, Health, and Society from Vanderbilt University.
The H.T. Smith Legal Studies Scholarship recognizes academic excellence and a commitment to civic service by selecting applicants from diverse backgrounds who are entering their second year of law school and are involved in giving back to the Florida community. Eligible universities include the University of Miami, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, St. Thomas University, Florida State University, and the University of Florida.
For more information, visit www.klugerkaplan.com.
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