Page 8 - Miami Vol 7 No 2

Michelle Suskauer
TIKKUN OLAM
Michelle Suskauer, the 2018 Wom- an Lawyer of the Year, became the 70th president of The Florida Bar in June. She is only the sixth woman to hold this position. A nationally recognized criminal defense attor- ney and legal analyst, she has more than 25 years of experience and has participated in hundreds of criminal trials, both jury and non- jury. Last year, she joined Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein P.A., a Miami- based rm representing clients in securities fraud, commercial litiga- tion and criminal defense cases. She is married to Judge Scott Sus- kauer who presides over family law, personal injury and probate cases. Their two daughters are graduates of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts; one a student and one a recent graduate of Penn State's musical theatre program.
2018 WOMEN IN LAW
AALM: What do you nd re- warding about being an attorney? What do you nd challenging about your practice and how do you overcome those challenges?
Suskauer: ere’s a Jewish concept – Tikkun Olam – which means performing acts of kindness to repair the world. As an attorney, I have a responsibility to help those who are disadvantaged, to leave our community and our world better than when I found it. At the same time, practicing law has become more challenging. Although tech- nology has assisted us in our prac- tices in being more productive, we are also tethered to our phones, tablets and computers 24/7 which has caused increased stress in the profession. Although I am incred- ibly busy and getting busier, I try
Suskauer
with her family.
to take time to do things I enjoy – working out, baking and spending time with family and friends.
AALM: What was the beginning of your career like? How has it evolved over the years?
Suskauer: I began my career as an assistant public defender in Palm Beach County. On my rst day of work, I met Scott Suskauer, who became an important mentor to me as well as my husband. In three years, I learned to try com- plex criminal cases. I helped my clients and their families through some very challenging circum- stances to nd creative solutions to di cult problems. A er we mar- ried, we opened our own practice and worked together for 18 years until he was appointed to the cir- cuit court in 2015.
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MIAMI · VOL. 7 NO. 2 8