Suzanne Bass, Attorney at Law

3731 Hendricks Avenue

Jacksonville, FL 32207

904-396-2277; fax: 904-396-0022

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SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Skilled litigation attorney with extensive jury and non jury trial experience in state and federal courts; expertise in diverse areas of the law, including criminal defense, personal injury, dissolution of marriage, child custody, adoption and administrative law; experience with and knowledge of local and state governmental agencies; consistent performance in efficient and effective case management from inception through completion; professional representation of diverse clientele; Child Custody Evaluator; Certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as both Family and Circuit Mediator; Certified Mediator, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida; Trained Court Appointed Arbitrator.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Private Practice, 1984 to present

Extensive civil and criminal defense litigation experience with an emphasis on pre-suit negotiations; adoption representation of individuals in independent, step-parent, international and agency placements; experience as a mediator; represented the Code Enforcement Boards of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach, Florida; local counsel for Walton Bondurant, Attorney, Portsmouth, Virginia, specializing in the representation of Federal Employment Liability Act claims of injured railroad employees.   

Since 1993 the firm has achieved Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV rating for ethical standards and legal ability and is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

Assistant State Attorney, 1982 - 1984

Ed Austin, State Attorney, Jacksonville, FL.

Duties: prosecution of individuals charged with felonies and misdemeanors in the county, circuit and juvenile courts of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida; lead attorney in hundreds of prosecutorial decisions; lead attorney in numerous jury trials and non jury trials including all phases of pre-trial case management.

Assistant Public Defender, 1980 - 1982

Milo Thomas, Public Defender, Lake City, FL.

Duties:  defense of individuals charged with felonies and misdemeanors in the county, circuit and juvenile courts of the Third Judicial Circuit, primarily in Madison County, Florida;  aggressively defended clientele at trial and at all pre trial court appearances; lead attorney in several jury and non jury trials.

Staff Attorney, Tidewater Legal Aid, Norfolk, VA,  1978 - 1980

Duties:  representation of income eligible clientele in the areas of family, housing and consumer law; litigation experience in chancery, general civil and juvenile courts of Norfolk, VA and Federal Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor, 1977 - University of Richmond, T. C. Williams School of Law, Richmond, Virginia.

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1974 - Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; graduated magna cum laude; Honors Thesis Topic:  ‘Attitudes of Organizational Women to Women Seeking Elected Office'.

Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts, 1972 - Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford, Georgia.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Florida Bar

Jacksonville Bar

Middle District of Florida, Federal Court

Jacksonville Women's Bar Association

Virginia State Bar

Eastern District of Virginia, Federal Court

Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, Inc.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, President, 1994; led the organization during resignation of former Executive Director of 20 years and hiring of current Executive Director.

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Board of Directors, 1988 to 1994; participated in leading JALA during significant budget cuts which involved finding alternative sources of funding.

Pastoral Counseling Services of Jacksonville, Board of Directors, 2001 to 2008; the mission of Pastoral Counseling Services is to work with people to foster healing, growth, and life-giving change.  Clients' religious perspectives are respected and may be drawn on as a therapeutic resource.

Children's International Summer Village (CISV), Board of Directors, 2006 to 2008; CISV is an international organization, apolitical and non-sectarian, committed to promoting world peace through building global friendships; 2006 to 2007, Communications Committee, Chair; 2008, Fundraising Committee, Co-chair.

Friends of the Library, Jacksonville, FL, 2005 to present.

San Marco Rotary Club, 2009.

Brazil Jacksonville Alliance of Northeast Florida, 2009; the vision of the Alliance is to become the premier resource organization for trade, culture, and educational opportunities between Southern Brazil and the greater Jacksonville region.

Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, member, 1987 to present:

• Deacon, 1995.
• Sanctuary Rebuilding Task Force; Chair, O'Neal Douglas, 2008 to present;
• Pew Committee, Chair; responsible for the selection, contract negotiations and planned installation of the pews for the new sanctuary, currently scheduled for the first worship service for December 23, 2009, the two year anniversary of the devastating fire.
• Sanctuary Choir, 1988 to 1994; resumed membership, 2009. 

David Wiesenfeld