What made you want to do the work you do? Please share the full story.
I began my studies in Political Science at the University of South Florida, then transferred to Stetson Law School, where I served as a Senior Associate on the Stetson Law Review and received a Certificate of Concentration in Trial Advocacy. My internships with the U.S. Department of Justice and with the 13th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office provided me with insight into how law is more than just rules, but rather how it is about individuals who rely on the legal system for guidance through an overwhelming process. After working in Civil Litigation and Appeals with Cole Scott & Kissane, and as the Assistant County Attorney in Pasco County, it was important for me to implement my Appellate skills and Trial experience by directly assisting Families and Individuals affected by Injury. Therefore, I became a member of Kemp Law Group and have the opportunity to assist individuals with their Appeals, Family Law, and Personal Injury cases throughout Pasco, Hernando, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties.
How is AI changing your business? What changes are you making to adapt?
Legal research and the initial drafting of appellate briefs and family law pleadings are being impacted by the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. I utilize AI technological tools to quickly locate relevant case law and summarize lengthy records; however I do not submit anything to the court without a human attorney cross checking each citation and argument. Our team is currently learning to view AI as an initial draft tool rather than a complete reference guide, and I am creating internal policies on how to verify sources utilized in creating a brief, the need to protect client confidentiality and the importance of maintaining our own judgement in every case.
If AI is impacting your business, please tell us 3 things you expect to change in the near future.
In the next few years, I anticipate seeing a shift toward using AI to automate many of the routine tasks associated with summarizing transcripts and checking citations in appellate cases. Consequently, my team will have fewer hours spent performing these tasks and will instead devote those hours to more meaningful activities such as preparing oral arguments, identifying small but important legal mistakes, and developing effective arguments to present in front of both the Florida Supreme Court and the District Courts of Appeal. Essentially, our roles as attorneys will be changed from doing day-to-day administrative-type work to focusing more on strategy when it comes to appellate litigation.
What do you think are your 3 biggest weaknesses and how are you overcoming them?
Creating the perfect appellate brief is one of my greatest weaknesses. In fact, my attention to detail causes me to obsess over polishing a specific statement or finding another case. Unfortunately, this behaviour often prevents me from having enough time with a client during our discussions or preparing for a Family Court hearing. To improve my results, I’ve created strict time limits for myself to complete research and writing assignments, and delegated the first drafts of my appellate briefs to associates, who will provide input on the drafting process. Finally, I’ve learned to focus on developing clear and timely arguments that ultimately provide better service for my clients than producing a flawless paragraph for submission after the deadline has passed.
Tell us about a time you were dead wrong about something.
When starting out my career as an attorney, I mistakenly believed a very strong expert defense witness (who was an excellent physician) meant that the claim against the medical provider could not be proven. The family of our client said they had found something in the medical records we had overlooked. So, I went back through each nurse’s note, and although it took a long time, I finally found an entry in one of the nurse’s notes that completely contradicted the timeline provided by the expert witness for the medical provider. This discovery changed everything regarding liability. This experience has taught me to always read every detail in a case until I have a complete understanding of the facts of the case as it relates to my client’s statement; therefore I advise younger attorneys to continue to read all records until they have successfully represented their client.
What is the biggest challenge you face each day and how do you handle it?
The most difficult part of my day is dealing with the emotional stress of working on family law and then talking about the complex legal issues of appellate law. I may be working with a parent going through a divorce or domestic violence hearing one hour and then working on a tort liability appeal for the Second District Court of Appeal the next hour. I have set aside time on my calendar by creating separate blocks of time to work on appellate issues in the morning and client meetings or court hearings in the afternoon. I rely on my team of paralegals and associates to assist in keeping up with deadlines and filing paperwork in a timely manner.
What do you value most and why?
Service is my highest priority, as I believe the legal system will have its greatest impact when attorneys use their talents to assist those individuals who experience greater difficulty gaining access to justice. I was awarded the William F. Blews Service Award at Stetson, as well as having donated time and resources to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, and to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Centre. When I think of how to serve, I consider being available to assist my clients with family law and personal injury matters, as well as training young attorneys, and to providing support and assistance to the community that helped create me.
What achievement are you the proudest of and why?
One of the proudest moments in my career was being selected by my peers as one of the best up-and-coming attorneys in Florida (one of only 102 attorneys) as well as being named in the 2006 issue of Florida Trend Magazine’s Florida Legal Elite, which I received early in my career. Knowing that my appellate practice work and family law work was recognized by other attorneys has motivated me to continue raising my own standards. Working as an adjunct professor at Hillsborough Community College has also given me the opportunity to share my knowledge of legal research and writing with students there.
What is your favorite book and why?
Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy is my all-time favorite book. It illustrates that a lawyer can break through the barriers created by a broken legal system, but only through humility, relentless service, and patience. Stevenson’s commitment to helping people see justice is just as important as winning cases, and I strive to do the same while practicing family and personal injury law. His book also reminds me that all clients deserve dignified representation, whether in divorce cases or complicated appeals.
What advice would you give to your younger self and why?
To my younger self, I would say, get on board sooner with creating a support system of mentors in appellate law and family law. While I focused on drafting articles for the Florida Bar Journal and being a member of the editorial board of that publication, I didn’t often reach out and ask for guidance from experienced attorneys who had traveled the same road I was just beginning to travel. By developing relationships with more experienced attorneys while I was working at the State Attorney’s Office and at Cole, Scott & Kissane, I would have day-to-day growth and retained myself from making many costly errors at the beginning of my career.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If yes, what is the best way to reach you?
I am happy you asked me if I am willing to mentor you. As an adjunct professor who teaches legal research and writing, I believe it is important to help support future attorneys in Florida! The best way to contact me is via the Kemp Law Group website. I welcome any questions you may have about appellate practice, family law, and creating a career integrating trial advocacy and community service.
Just for fun, what is your favorite food?
I would say, a vegan burger.