Page 36 - Miami Vol 8 No 1
P. 36

2019 SUPERSTAR
AALM: Do you have any mentors or professors that encouraged you along the way?
Fernandez: I have been fortunate to have many mentors over the years, but my parents have been the most in uential mentors in my career. My parents are blue-collar immigrants from Cuba.  ey have taught me the importance of hard work and perse- verance, as well as not losing sight of what is important in life.  ere have been di cult times in my career, but my parents always managed to put things in perspective for me.
AALM: What experiences have taught you the most?
Fernandez: Being a young attor- ney in an area of law – estate planning – dominated by seasoned legal veter- ans has certainly forced me to catch up to my peers. Someone once said that time is a great teacher – they ob- viously have not been on the receiv- ing end of a scathing tongue lashing from a judge.  e experiences I have had in the courtroom and with my peers have certainly molded me as an attorney, and taught me some invalu- able lessons.
I remember my  rst task as a newly minted attorney was to go down to the courthouse and make friends. For- tunately, I had some great resources who helped me survive a very di cult
“LAW SCHOOL DOES NOT PREPARE YOU FOR THE REAL LEGAL EDUCATION THAT IS FIRST HAND LIFE EXPERIENCE.”
Elizabeth M. Fernandez
EYE ON THE PRIZE
MANAGER OF WEST PALM BEACH, FL OFFICE
 rst year.  ere are some great people who are willing to help, so it is important to value those rela- tionships and pay it forward.
AALM: What do you  nd par- ticularly rewarding about your
practice?
Fernandez: I enjoy solving prob-
lems for my clients,  nding creative ways to get the best results possible, and learning about unique nuances in the law. As an attorney, I am con- stantly learning how to handle di er- ent situations that can come up and perfecting my practice to be able to better serve my clients.
AALM: What do you  nd particu- larly challenging about your practice? Fernandez: One of the biggest challenges in my practice is overcom- ing the apprehension from a client about working with an attorney. A lot of time goes into explaining estimated budgets, the reasoning behind a pro- posed time frame, what I will and will not bill for, etc. I do my best to approach these concerns from the cli- ent’s perspective, and try to put their
minds at ease.
AALM: What is the one piece of
advice you would give to a student or young attorney?
Fernandez: Do not lose sight of who you are as an individual.  e le- gal profession is rewarding and ful ll- ing, but it is also bitter and di cult to navigate at times. When you are being tested physically, emotionally and mentally, the worst thing that can happen is not staying true to yourself. At the end of the day, problems get re-
solved, the sun will continue to rise in the east, and all things will pass – but if you lose sight of who you are as a person in this  eld, it’s tough to sur- vive.
Law school does not prepare you for the real legal education that is  rst hand life experience. Once you are out in the  eld practicing law, you will learn civility, practicing “practical” law, managing projects and clients, and learning how to handle the ev- eryday stresses of your personal and professional life. Learn from every ex- perience, do not feel discouraged, and remember to play the long game.
AALM: What do you most hope to accomplish in the future?
Fernandez: I have always had a passion for teaching, so I certainly see myself exploring options in the legal education  eld so I can pass on my experiences and knowledge to future attorneys. I also hope to build a larger practice in the trusts and estates  eld and expand my presence throughout Florida.
AALM: What personal trait most aided you in your career?
Fernandez:  ere are many traits that have been instrumental in my career, but the most important one so far has been my hard work and dedi- cation. Getting to where I am today has not been easy – I could not have done it without my work ethic. My biggest fear is not seeing something through to the end, which certainly motivates me to work harder than the person next to me and keep my eye on the prize.
PHOTO BY ROBERT KLEMM


































































































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