Page 37 - Miami Vol 7 No 2

e best lesson I have learned is to be true to yourself and pay it forward!
AALM: How welcoming do you think the South Florida legal community is to women practitioners? How do you personally try to help women following in your career path?
Zabel: I believe in mentoring! I have had a lot of interns over the years. I participate every year in FAWL’s speed mentoring event. is event puts law school students with practitioners and judges. One of my mentees from a few years ago, became my summer intern. She gave me the honor of swearing her into the Bar and invited me to her wedding. Our relationship has now evolved into a lasting friend- ship. A few years ago, I was asked to join the leadership committee of FAWL. e committee created a leadership summit which is now in its sixth year. Each summit has di erent panels with a keynote speak- er. e goal is for the audience to be inspired, by listening and learn- ing to these amazing women. Last year, we had a panel on women led law rms and the year before we had women deans of Florida law schools. I am proud to be part of this committee which excites women to pursue a path they thought might be closed to them.
AALM: Tell us something about yourself that people would be surprised to learn.
Zabel: I am writing a book about my journey and hope it will communicate to the reader that when you are given lemons you make lemonade.
AALM: What accomplishment are you most proud of achieving?
Zabel: e four greatest accomplishments of my life are my four children. ey make me look good. My oldest son who currently is working with me with my new practice, wants to eventually create a nonpro t startup and is currently volunteering with Aces for Au- tism. He plays tennis with children who have autism. My second son who is in his last year of law school is a mentor to several students and my daughter volunteers for the school for the blind in Boston and is studying to become a pediatric oncologist. My youngest who is in high school volunteers in the theatre department and mentors middle school students.
AALM: What case most de ned or rede ned your practice?
Zabel: Recently, I mediated a post judgment family case. I was able to help facilitate closure for the parties. It was so rewarding for me, knowing I helped stop the bleeding. is emphasized to me that I am traveling on the right journey.
AALM: What do you most hope to accomplish in the future?
Zabel: What I would like to accomplish is to build and sustain my ADR practice. My goal is to help navigate litigants (especially children and the elderly) through the maze of litigation and facilitate a healthy resolution to their con ict.
A few years ago, when I rotated into the family division, I created a pro bono collaborative law pilot project. It is named e Law Col- laboratively (TLC). Collaborative law is the new frontier of dispute resolution. is project helps families who live pay check to pay- check stay out of the court system. My hope through these cases that are resolved collaboratively that they will not end up being the boomerang cases. With a great team of collaboratively trained law- yers and professionals (it takes a village) the project has had several successful cases.
I hope to obtain grant money for future training. I have brought the project to the Broward family judges who now are in the process of implementing the project. My goal is to take this project statewide to help indigent families have another av- enue of dispute resolution.
AT a glance
MAZE RESOLUTIONS PA
(305) 652-2699 www.mazeresolutions.com
EDUCATION
Miami Dade Community College Florida State University
Nova Law School
AWARDS
Women of Achievement Award
The Devorah Judge Award
Special Recognition Award Harvey Ruvin Clerk of
the Courts
Pro Bono Service Award
Miami Dade Bar Association Appreciation for
Public Service
Miami Shine Award
Judicial Lifetime Achievement Award
Hannah G. Solomon Award
Goodwin Research Fellowship
FAWL President’s Award for Outstanding Service Ally Award for Her Tireless Fight for Equality Visionary Award, Collaborative Family Law Institute
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Leadership Committee
Family Court Intake Task Force
Dade County Bar, Professionalism Committee, The
Standing Committee on Professionalism
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Women of Tomorrow, Mentor
Big Brother’s Big Sisters Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
FAVORITE QUOTE
It does not cost anything to be kind!
CORPORATE HEADSHOT MIAMI