Finding and hiring a lawyer can be intimidating, frustrating, discouraging and generally overwhelming. Hiring the wrong lawyer or hiring no lawyer at all can be damaging to your case.
Even if I can’t take your case, because of my diverse experience, you may want to speak with me before you decide who to hire. When deciding which lawyer to hire, these are three of the most important things to consider.
Experience. I have over twenty years of experience. I’ve worked in government and private practice. My civil litigation experience includes family law (divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, modification proceedings, etc.), commercial and business disputes, landlord and tenant disputes, real estate disputes, professional malpractice defense, and construction litigation. I was an assistant state attorney early in my career, and a small part of my practice continues to be criminal defense. I’ve done estate planning and probate, corporate law, and represented clients in commercial and real estate transactions. For several years, I was a prosecutor with The Florida Bar, first prosecuting unlicensed practice of law, then prosecuting attorneys accused of misconduct. Currently, my practice is concentrated in defense of lawyers accused of misconduct, representation and consultation in bar admission matters, and family law. I continue to handle commercial and business litigation matters, though it is no longer a primary area of practice for me.
Ethics and Professional Responsibility. I worked for The Florida Bar for over eight years. I have served on The Florida Bar's Professional Ethics Committee. I currently serve on The Florida Bar’s Client Security Fund Committee, having just completed a term as chair of the committee. As a lawyer, my reputation is important to me. I believe that if I compromise my reputation for an advantage in one case, I’ll be hurting my future clients. If you hire me, please understand that I will handle your case in the most professional manner possible. I believe in our judicial system, and I believe that professionalism ultimately yields the best results for my clients.
Accessibility. One of the common client complaints is that their lawyer won’t return calls, or that they never get to speak to the lawyer, only staff. I provide my cell phone number to clients. My clients can call me 24/7. I carry a laptop computer and often a portable printer. Even when I’m not in my office, I’m in contact and able to communicate (and work) through e-mail. I enjoy being a lawyer, and I like to be in touch with my clients. I don’t consider it an intrusion to be called early, late, or on the weekends. I believe that if part of my job is to give my clients peace of mind, my clients must be able to reach me at all times.
