Page 36 - Miami Vol 7 No 2
P. 36

2018 WOMEN IN LAW
SARAH ZABEL
Coming Full Circle
AALM:Whatwasthebeginningofyourcareerlike? Howhasitevolvedover the years?
Zabel: My legal career began with the State Attorney’s O ce Child Sup- port Enforcement. Originally, I wanted to become an entertainment lawyer. I was involved in law school with the Entertainment and Law Society and was a research assistant to the entertainment and sports law professor at Nova.
Life takes many directions. When I worked for child support, I did the 180 and fell in love with helping children. I stayed at child support until
I became assistant division chief and ensuring the workers’ compensa- tion program I created (where past due child support from workers’ compensation was collected) sustained itself. I le  a er seven years
to open my own practice.
As part of my practice I was a certi ed circuit civil and fam- ily mediator.  en life happens. My husband had a catastrophic accident when I was four months pregnant with our fourth child which le  him a paraplegic for the rest his life and my  rst cousin was killed in 9/11.  ese two events were the catalyst for me running for judge.
Now I have come full circle and have a full-service alternative dispute res- olution practice. My career path certainly has evolved since I graduated law school. No one has a crystal ball and life certainly is a journey and my path now is to resolve disputes away from the courthouse.
AALM: Did you have any mentors or professors who helped you develop your career?
Zabel: I have had many mentors throughout my life. Beginning with my parents.  e late Sunny Schneider was the person who got me involved with Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL). She took me by the hand and brought me into the organization. Sunny was a true cheerleader for FAWL and inspired me to help women break barriers in the legal profession. No matter what she was going through, especially due to her illness she always had a positive attitude.
Edith Osman is another role model and a true trailblazer for women. When she was president of the Florida Bar her mission was to put women on bar committees. It was because of Edith I was put onto the family law rules committee. She is someone I greatly respect because she is always true to her word.
Sandy Karlan (retired judge) is someone whom I greatly admire and who I learned so much from when I was on the bench. Also, Rosa Ro- driguez (now retired judge). When I was in law school I interned for the Public Defender’s O ce. Rosa was my mentor lawyer. When I became a judge, Rosa was there as a mentor and friend. Now we are still friends and are both mediators.
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