Blumenauer Hackworth, P.A.

Originally from Charleston, West Virginia, I attended West Virginia Wesleyan College studying both business administration and political science. After three semesters at West Virginia Wesleyan College, I transferred to West Virginia University, where I obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree in Multi-Disciplinary Studies. While attending West Virginia University, I worked with my father as a surface miner in the coal fields of West Virginia.

Subsequently, I attended Stetson University College of Law and graduated in May 2010. I was also a Florida Bar Public Service Fellow. I completed my public service related internship with the Office of the Hillsborough County Public Defender. I also completed a Certified Legal Internship with the Miami-Dade State Attorney working in both the Gang Unit and Domestic Violence Unit. This gave me the unique perspective of seeing how cases are both prosecuted and defended. During my third year at Stetson, I completed an internship with the United States Attorney's Office in Tampa, Florida. While at Stetson University College of Law, I had the opportunity to work as a research and teaching assistant for Terry MacCarthy, former Federal Public Defender of Northern Illinois, and author of MacCarthy on Cross Examination.

After being admitted to the Florida Bar, I accepted a position with the Office of the Pinellas County Public Defender. I tried over twenty-five jury trials and one non-jury trial. I had the opportunity to represent over one thousand criminal defendants. While an assistant public defender, I attended Public Defender College, a program intended to develop and maintain advocacy skills for assistant public defenders across Florida. Working as a public defender gave me the skills necessary to handle your criminal case system from arraignment to disposition hearings to pretrial hearings to jury trial to appeals.

After leaving the Public Defender's Office, I was offered a position with Cole, Scott & Kissane, on of the largest insurance defense firms in Florida. While with Cole, Scott & Kissane, my practice focused on property insurance litigation, personal injury and wrongful death suits. While at Cole, Scott & Kissane, I began to quickly realize my real passion lay in representing real people, homeowners, and those accused of crimes.

When we started Blumenauer Hackworth, I wanted to return to the type of practice that inspired me to become an attorney, the kind of practice that valued people and understood that behind every case was a family and a story. Coming from a big firm, I wanted to get back to the basics. I wanted to get back to the client centered approach of law, where our litigation strategy focuses on your needs, not the other way around. If we do no™t live up to our ideals or promises, you call me on my cell phone (813) 444-8630. I look forward to working with you.