Four emerging leaders selected for inaugural Fellowship Program of the Criminal Law Section
The Criminal Law Section’s inaugural 2025 class of Fellows, Laura Chiu, from left, Brooke Pemberton, CLS Young Lawyers Committee Chair Alexa Cline, Freddie Menard, and Kyra Lucas-Millbrook at the 2025 Annual Florida Bar Convention in Boca Raton.
The Criminal Law Section has selected four young lawyers to participate in the section’s first-ever Fellowship Program, a new initiative designed to spur interest, retain, and foster participation in the section among the next generation of criminal law practitioners, while fostering leadership, mentorship, and professional development among its members.
The 2025 Criminal Law Section Fellows are:
- Laura Chiu, assistant state attorney in the Ninth Circuit, Orlando. Chiu is a 2024 graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
- Kyra Lucas-Millbrook, assistant regional counsel in the First Region, Green Cove Springs. She is a 2019 graduate of Florida A&M University College of Law.
- Freddie Menard, assistant state attorney in the 15th Judicial Circuit, West Palm Beach. She is a 2019 graduate of Florida State University College of Law.
- Brooke Pemberton, assistant public defender in the 11th Circuit, Miami. Pemberton is a 2021 graduate of the George Washington University Law School.
“These four attorneys exemplify the drive, talent, and commitment to justice that we need in the criminal law field,” said Patricia Dawson, chair of Criminal Law Section. “The Fellowship Program is one of our most important initiatives. It not only helps promising new attorneys build strong professional foundations but also ensures that the section continues to thrive by nurturing the next generation of criminal law leaders.”
The Fellowship Program was developed by the Criminal Law Section’s Young Lawyers Committee, with the support of the section’s executive council. During the one-year program, fellows are assigned to work with a section committee, matched with an experienced mentor, and receive up to $1,000 to support attendance at Criminal Law Section Executive Council meetings throughout the Bar year.
“Fellowship programs can be crucial for new criminal law attorneys,” said Alexa Cline, chair of the Section’s Young Lawyers Committee and assistant statewide prosecutor with the Florida Office of the Attorney General. “They offer a unique pathway to developing essential skills, gaining practical experience, and building a network of practicing attorneys that can lead to future opportunities and guidance. We’re incredibly proud to welcome our inaugural Fellows and excited to support them on this journey.”
For more information, visit https://floridabarcls.org/
