The Honorable Albert W. Sheppard Scholarship Fund
The Honorable Albert W. Sheppard Scholarship Fund supports a law student in a year-long clerkship position with the Commerce Case Management Program in Philadelphia. The selected student receives a fellowship with a stipend and a 3 credit (unpaid) practicum, supporting a year-long clerkship experience.
The Sheppard Scholarship Fund was established in 2013 by the Philadelphia Bar Foundation in coordination with the Business Law Section’s Business Litigation Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association, to honor the memory of Judge Albert W. Sheppard, Jr., and his contributions to the Philadelphia legal community. This unique, year-long program is ideal for law students who are interested in learning more about business law and commercial litigation and who want to gain research and writing experience. Students must commit to 10-12 hours per week for the academic year. Selected students have the opportunity to engage in legal research and writing in the area of commercial litigation. Students learn about Pennsylvania law, analyze evidentiary issues, gain experience in aspects of Pennsylvania civil procedure and draft written work.
Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Recipients!
Billy Febuary, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Billy is a third year law student at Temple Law. In addition to the Sheppard Fellowship, Billy is interning at the U.S. Attorney's Office and is the treasurer and an article editor with Temple's Political and Civil Rights Society. Billy was a Law & Public Policy Scholar at Temple Law and has previously interned at the Department of Labor Office of the Solicitor, the New Jersey Division of Law, and Legal Aid of Southeastern PA. Billy looks forward to getting hands on experience in judicial chambers and learning all aspects of commercial litigation.
Caroline Narro, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Caroline is a 3L at Temple University Beasley School of Law. In addition to the Sheppard Fellowship, Caroline serves as the Vice President of the Student Wellness Association on campus. Last summer, Caroline interned at the Harris County Civil Court House with the Honorable Donna Roth before joining Power Home Remodeling as an intern with the in-house legal department. As a 2L, Caroline served as the Vice President of the Latin American Law Student Association as well as the Vice President of the Student Wellness Association. Caroline is appreciative of gaining invaluable exposure to commercial litigation with the Judges in the Commerce Court Division.
Jamal Connelly, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Jamal Connelly is a law student, activist, and advocate hailing from North Philadelphia. He is passionate about access to justice and business law, and currently, he is a 2L Day Student at Temple University's Beasley School of Law. Jamal is interning with the Honorable Judge Ninah Wright Padilla for the 2023-2024 school year and is enthusiastic about expanding his knowledge in contracts and commercial litigation.
Past Recipients
2022-2023 Recipients
Shadai Joyner, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Shadai is a 2L in the accelerated JD program at Drexel Law. In addition to the Sheppard Fellowship, Shadai is completing pro bono at the Drexel University Estate Planning Clinic. Shadai is excited to learn more about business litigation and hopefully pursue a career in business law.
Daniel Levy, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Daniel is a second-year student at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. In addition to the Sheppard Fellowship, Daniel serves as a Second Year Representative on the Moot Court Board and Treasurer of the Jewish Law Students Association. Last summer, Daniel interned at Specialty Audit Services, and this summer he is interning at The Glenmede Trust Company, N.A. Daniel is eager to further his knowledge, experience, and exposure with commercial litigation through the Sheppard Fellowship.
Christopher Tew, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Christopher is a third-year law student in the Accelerated Juris Doctor program at Drexel Law. In addition to the Sheppard Fellowship, Christopher serves as a Teaching Fellow with the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project. Last year, Christopher interned in the chambers of the Honorable Chad F. Kenney in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Christopher is excited to gain additional experience working in judicial chambers and looks forward to learning about how commercial litigation is facilitated under Philadelphia's Commerce Case Management System.
2021-2022 Recipient
Myranda (Meng Xi) Zhou, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Myranda is a rising third year law student at Temple Law. In addition to the Sheppard Fellowship, Myranda interned at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office last summer. Myranda also served as the Co-President ofAsian Pacific American Law Student Association and the Secretary of Business Law Society at Temple Law. Myranda looks forward to learning about complex commercial litigation and gaining hands-on experience through the Sheppard Fellowship.
2019-2020 Recipient
Michael Fitzpatrick, Drexel University Kline School of Law
Michael is a rising third year law student at Drexel Law. In addition to the Sheppard Fellowship, Michael serves as a research assistant for Professor Norman Stein and as a legal intern at the Department of Labor Office of the Solicitor. Last year, Michael interned at the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Michael is eager to work with the Commerce Case Management Program and gain valuable exposure into business law and litigation resolving complex business disputes.
2018-2019 Recipient
MacKensie Larson, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law
MacKensie is a rising third year law student at Temple Law. In addition to the Sheppard Fellowship, MacKensie serves as Executive Editor for Temple International & Comparative Law Journal. MacKensie looks forward to becoming more familiar with complex commercial litigation at the trial division and working with a unique case management system at the Commerce Court Division.
About Judge Albert W. Sheppard, Jr.
Judge Sheppard made many significant contributions to the administration of justice in the Philadelphia Court System as a judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1983 to 2011. He was cherished by litigants as a down-to-earth jurist who treated all who came before him with courtesy and respect. He was repeatedly honored by his colleagues for his contributions to efficiencies in the court system. Among his many laudable achievements, Judge Sheppard facilitated the creation of the now internationally-recognized Commerce Case Management Program. The Program was hailed by the Committee of Seventy for its fast, fair and cost effective resolution of complex business disputes, and has been modeled by other jurisdictions across the country and around the world.
For more information, please contact Jessica R. Hilburn-Holmes, Esq