Amy and Frank Garrison Social Justice Law Fund

Amy Price Garrison (BA'79) and Frank M. Garrison Jr., '79 (BA'76) generously established the Amy and Frank Garrison Social Justice Law Fund to support Vanderbilt Law students providing services to or for the general benefit of individuals who may have been disenfranchised, dispossessed, discriminated against, or economically disadvantaged. The Fund also supports students interested in serving the broader public interest in positions such as interns in judicial chambers, U.S. Attorney's Offices, government agencies, or non-governmental organizations.

In addition to providing direct financial support to students committed to or exploring social justice and public interest careers, the Garrison Fund enhances the Law School’s efforts to provide robust social justice and public interest experiences to students by solidifying the Law School's commitment to its Social Justice Program and public interest instruction, research and service.

We can always do better, we can always work harder to eliminate injustice and inequality. It's one of the most important things we can do.

Frank Garrison

Garrison Social Justice Scholars

Each year, the Law School will select at least one Garrison Social Justice Scholar from among current first-year J.D. students who apply for the scholarship. The Garrison Scholars shall:

receive a supplemental annual scholarship of at least $7,500¹ for each of the second and third years of law school
agree to pursue an academic curriculum in preparation for a social justice or public interest career
receive a summer fellowship stipend of at least $5,000² during rising second-year and rising third-year summers
choose a public interest summer experience for both summers prior to graduation, with at least one summer focused on social justice³

During the spring semester of 2025, the Law School will select one member of the Class of 2027 from among those who apply. The Class of 2027 Garrison Social Justice Scholar award includes:

an annual scholarship of $31,880 ($15,940 per semester) that supplements scholarships already received up to full tuition,
two summer fellowship stipends of $6,000 for at least ten weeks in unpaid positions in the public interest sector each summer; one of these positions must be focused on social justice. If a Garrison Scholar works at a public interest organization offering compensation, the Scholar may receive a summer stipend so that all compensation totals no more than $7,500 for ten weeks.

Current first-year J.D. students who wish to apply for the Garrison Social Justice Scholar award must complete and submit the application form and other materials by 4:00 p.m. CST, Thursday, March 6, 2025.

Amy and Frank M. Garrison Public Interest Fellowships

Each year, no fewer than three students receive full⁴ fellowships to support a summer experience working in the public interest in unpaid positions at either a non-profit or governmental agency. Garrison Public Interest Fellows are selected by the Law School from among J.D. students applying for Vanderbilt Law Summer Stipends.

The precise amount of the scholarship is determined each year. The Garrison Social Justice Scholar award includes an annual scholarship that supplements scholarships already received up to full tuition. Students currently receiving full-tuition scholarships are not eligible for Garrison Social Justice awards. Law School scholarship recipients pursuing dual degree programs receive Law School scholarship funds during the semesters in which they are enrolled in the Law School.
The precise amount of the stipend is determined each year.
A "social justice summer experience" focuses on advancing and protecting the rights of individuals (or organizations aiding individuals), particularly those that may have been discriminated against or are otherwise unable or hindered in protecting their own rights to safety, equality and freedom, including but not limited to the poor (including the working poor and indigent criminal defendants), the elderly, the disabled, mentally ill and others deprived of their civil or human rights. A "public interest summer experience" could focus on serving the broader public interest in positions such as interns in judicial chambers, U.S. Attorney's Offices, government agencies, or non-governmental organizations.
A full fellowship equals $6,000.00. At the discretion of the Law School, half summer fellowships may be awarded so long as the minimum dollar amount of 3 full fellowships is met.

Garrison Social Justice Law Fund