For the past seventeen years I have been a matrimonial and family law litigation attorney in Broward County, Florida. In 2007, I gave up litigation in favor of mediation, and currently work as a family law mediator.
The process of mediation should help you focus on resolving the issues between the two of you, not on who wins or loses. Unfortunately, our courts are designed to be adversarial, with a winner and a loser, and it may take years to go through the process. As a litigator, I loved winning, but it broke my heart to see parents spend $40,000 to $50,000 each on custody litigation or fighting over stuff.
No one ever really wins in family court and often the children are emotionally hurt during the litigation process. In mediation, you will learn that no one ever can get 100% of everything. Hopefully, both of you can work with the mediator to resolve all the issues between the two of you. You may attend mediation, with or without your lawyers, at any time in the litigation process or you may attend mediation prior to filing any action with the court.
As your mediator, I will set aside all the time you need, in a relaxed, comfortable and private environment, to help you finalize your financial, property, support, and child issues. You may resolve everything in a few hours or you may take several sessions to work everything out. Mediation is directed to help you get through the process at your own pace.
I have been a matrimonial and family law litigation attorney in Broward County, Florida, since 1994. For the past few years, I have worked primarily as a family and circuit civil mediator.
Legal Aid Service of Broward County
- Pro Bono attorney and mediator for Broward County Lawyers' Care
- Member of committee to raise funds for their Children's Project
- 2008/2009 Master of Ceremonies for Legal Aid's Fundraiser for Children's Projects Participant in holiday "Adopt a Family".
- 2011 recipient of "Commitment to Justice Award" from Coast to Coast Legal Service of South Florida
Non Legal Employment
- I have worked full time since I was 15. My first job was cleaning houses for a couple of real estate agents who had a bunch of rental property. I made $15.00 per day in 1964.
- I never had more disposable income than when I worked, at age 16, as a waitress for a Holiday Inn Restaurant.
- I worked to pay for my entire college education, starting as a lifeguard at Jacksonville University from 1969-1972
- I moved to Athens, Georgia to attend school; however, I was unable to afford school for a year and began working at Winn Dixie as a cashier. I worked there from 1972 until March 1976, when I graduated from UGA.
- 1974 to 1976, Little League Baseball Umpire, Madison County, Georgia, Recreation Department. I was the only female umpire in the county, and probably the state.
- March 1976 to August 1976. Substitute teacher. Oconee County High School, Georgia.
- May 1975 to August 1976. Exercise teacher, taught Advanced Lifesaving, and worked as a lifeguard for the Clarke County Recreation Department in Athens, Georgia.
- August 1976 to July 1978. Physical Education teacher, 8th grade Science teacher; Coach, men's tennis and women's softball. The Tallulah Falls School, Inc., Tallulah Falls, Georgia.
- August 1978 to July 1979. Attended the University of Florida and was a Graduate Assistant. Worked toward Masters degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences. I was broke and left for a job offer in Miami.
- July 1979 to June 1985. I was hired as a District Manager for Elaine Powers Fitness Centers. I started with three centers and eventually was the Regional Manager for 21 Centers, located in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, and Fort Worth. I won every sales contest the company had during the time I worked there.
- December 1985 to August 1989. I started my own business in Miami, an aerobics center, The Workout of Miami. I sold it to go to law school.
- March 1989 to February 1990. I was hired by Physician's Weight Loss Centers to help them expand their market to Fort Lauderdale.
- January 1991 to August 1991. I worked as an Admissions Representative (sales) at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. I left when I got accepted to Nova.
