The Business Law Program is honored to announce the establishment of the Simpson Business Law Fellowship, a new endowed initiative that will provide crucial support for students pursuing internships or externships with the prestigious Delaware Court of Chancery or the Supreme Court of Delaware. This new fellowship was generously established by Julia Simpson ’25 and will serve to enhance opportunities for our students, strengthening their connection to Delaware’s rich corporate law environment.
The Simpson Business Law Fellowship at Maryland Carey Law will provide financial support for law students interning and/or externing at the Delaware Court of Chancery, or the Supreme Court of Delaware. The fellowship award requires students to commit to a semester of work with the Delaware Courts, where they will gain valuable hands-on experience in the state's legal system. The award amount will vary based on the number of applicants each semester, ensuring equitable distribution of funds. This opportunity allows students to immerse themselves in the legal process while contributing to the work of the Delaware Courts.
The inspiration for Julia’s generous gift came from her own experience serving as an extern with Vice Chancellor Paul A. Fioravanti, Jr. ’97 at the Delaware Court of Chancery during the Fall 2024 semester. Simpson shared her experience was transformative, “Working with some of the best law clerks and judges in the country was truly an incredible experience, and I feel that I have developed a professional community for life. Overall, my time at the Chancery Court was the highlight of my law school career thus far.”
Reflecting on this new endowment, Heather Terech, managing director of the Business Law Program, shared “Julia’s generous investment reflects the profound impact that this externship had on her education, and through this fellowship the Business Law Program will enable more students to access these unique and important opportunities within the Delaware’s Courts.”
In addition to this internship, Julia also had the opportunity to take the Business Law Program’s Corporate Litigation Bootcamp, an immersive weeklong course taught by Vice Chancellor Fioravanti, which is designed for students interested in learning about corporate litigation. The course covers a wide range of material, including substantive Delaware corporate law and corporate and commercial litigation procedures in the Delaware Court of Chancery. Students are also split into two law firms with contained assignments for litigating a corporate case that involves both a collaborative writing requirement (motion practice) and oral advocacy (presentation of oral argument) designed to engage all students.
A very active and engaged law student, Julia has also served as the president of the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Association, as well as a staff editor on the Maryland Journal of Business and Technology Law. She also served as Symposium and Manuscripts editor for the Journal and facilitated the spring symposium, Corporate Law Forum, held on March 24, 2025. Julia is clerking for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Maria Ellena Chavez-Ruark.
Learn more about contributing to the Simpson Business Law Fellowship and helping us to expand its impact for Maryland Carey Law students. Together, we can ensure that the next generation of business law leaders have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.