Education
Michele S. Stephan graduated from the University of South Florida, College of Humanities, in 1989. She graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1996 and was admitted to the Florida Bar the same year. While attending Stetson University College of Law, Ms. Stephan was granted a Public Service Fellowship by the Florida Bar Foundation, developed a program to provide legal services to persons of modest means and volunteered time at pro-bono legal clinics. Ms. Stephan was awarded the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award in 1996.
Experience
Michele S. Stephan has successfully litigated matters involving personal injury as well as matters involving the violation of nursing home resident's rights, defective products, defective medical devices, Federal civil rights violations, international child abduction under the Hague Convention and international matters involving civil theft and fraud. She is admitted to practice in all of the Florida State Courts, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Federal Tax Court. In addition to her trial experience, Ms. Stephan also handles appellate matters before the Second District Court of Appeals.
Activities, Associations and Awards
Ms. Stephan is the immediate past president of the Sarasota County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, a past editor of the Sarasota County Bar Association legal newspaper "The Docket", a member of the Executive Committee of the Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court and is the Vice President of the Manasota Trial Board, and member of The Florida Justice Association and the Sarasota County Bar Association. Ms. Stephan was awarded the 2011 “Service to the Community Award” by Legal Aid of Manasota, was Member of the Year for the Sarasota County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers in 2008 and was recognized by the Supreme Court of Florida in 2007 for outstanding pro-bono service. Ms. Stephan is a volunteer judge for Teen Court of Sarasota County, is a guest lecturer in the community and conducts a monthly family law clinic for Legal Aid of Manasota which assists low income litigants navigate the family law process. Ms. Stephan volunteers weekly at the Resurrection House day shelter providing legal advice to the homeless on issues affecting their daily lives.
Press
John M. Scheb Inn of Court 20th Anniversary Gala to be Coordinated by Master in the Inn, Michele Stephan
On behalf of the Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court, Michele Stephan, as social chair, is organizing the Inn's 20th Anniversary Gala. The Inn of Court is a membership of judges, lawyers, legal educators and law students who meet monthly to promote excellence in legal advocacy at the trial and appellate court levels and to offer a greater understanding and appreciation for the adversary system of dispute resolution in American law, with particular emphasis on ethics and professional standards of excellence. The Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court was founded in 1991 by eleven members and has grown to over 90 members. The Gala is scheduled for May 10, 2011 at the Lido Beach Resort. Ms. Stephan is a Master in the Inn, which classification includes lawyers of outstanding reputation with over 15 years at the bar.
Attorney Michele S. Stephan serves as volunteer judge for Manatee County high school students
Sarasota Attorney Michele Stephan participated in the Manatee County Teen Court 2011 High School Mock Trial Competition on March 19, 2011. This is the most hands on, intensive learning simulation about the trial process available to high school students. The Mock Trial is an academic competition in which a team of 8 students simulates the roles of both attorneys and witnesses in a fictional trial situation. The students are given a factual scenario and must prepare a case for both the prosecution and the defense. Students try both cases before a panel of volunteer judges and compete against other teams in their judicial circuit. The team with the highest combined score from both trials travels to the state competition at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando.
Attorneys Goldman and Stephan asked to educate Japanese Gardens Ladies Club
Michele Stephan and David Goldman were invited to speak at the Japanese Gardens Ladies Club on February 15, 2011. Ms. Stephan and Mr. Goldman educated a crowd of 45 men and women on understanding their automobile insurance policy, the importance of uninsured/underinsured motorist’s coverage, what to do in the event of an auto accident and the process of bringing a personal injury claim.
