I began my career as a public defender. In this capacity I was able to help many people who otherwise would have no help. Even though I did not make the money I could have made at a larger firm, the defense of the rights of the indigent and the defense of the Constitutional right to counsel when your rights are being taken away was a passion. I did hundreds of trials and was given an award by the honorable Judge Paul Moyle (now retired) for outstanding service as a public defender. After many years of being unable to pay my student loan from The University of Miami, I realized it was time to strike out on my own.
I began private practice in February of 2013, practicing exclusively in the area of Family Law. I built my firm from the ground up and now have an associate, 2 paralegals, a bookkeeper and a filing person. I treat my staff with the utmost respect. I give them the same respect as I would give a Judge. I only do family law, because this area involves every area of the law. It is impossible to be competent in this area and practice in other areas. Each year I attend the substantial CLE in order to keep my knowledge of the case law up to date.
This area is such a passion for me because I have the ability to help many people to settle their case and learn to effectively co-parent amicably. As a mother, my passion is for the children. I also have great passion for minimizing attorney’s fees. I have been able to shut down others who don’t share this belief by setting all cases for trial as soon as the rules permit. As a consequence, I have done numerous trials.
My prior substantial trial experience has allowed me to perform in trial competently and effectively. Sometimes, when a party is unreasonable one is left with no choice but to proceed to trial. My staff is my backbone and, as a team, we are effective and properly presenting evidence and my knowledge of the law and evidentiary rules also allows us to try cases in a cost-effective manner.
Being bound by the rules of ethics, the goal is to settle to minimize fees and, more importantly, the detrimental effects that litigious cases has on the children.
In every case, the children are my biggest concern.
