Ellen Graber (pronounced with a long “a”) is the sole proprietor of the law office of Ellen L. Graber, located at 550 Water St.
HOW LONG HAS SHE BEEN IN THE 550 BUILDING?
“I’ve been here since 2002, when I opened my practice. I’m a new attorney. This is a convenient location because the courthouses are only a few blocks away.”
POOLING RESOURCES
“The St. Joe Company donated their legal library to the school [Florida Coastal School of Law], but they didn’t want the books. I asked if I could have them. All the attorneys on this floor have access to them. There are four [lawyers] right now and I believe there are a couple more coming on board.”
WHERE DID she GO
TO LAW SCHOOL?
Florida Coastal.
IS THIS A SECOND CAREER?
“Actually, it’s my third. I started out as a [biology and chemistry] school teacher, then moved into the meat industry doing quality assurance. In Jacksonville, I was also a plant manager for a furniture manufacturer.” She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University.
WHAT MADE HER
SWITCH TO LAW?
“Everybody told me I should be an attorney because I dealt with OSHA and a lot of different federal agencies. I always ended up speaking with the attorneys. I wanted to be an attorney for a long time but it never worked out that I was in the right place at the right time. I was always very interested in the process of law and the idea of assisting someone through it to the end.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING FOR HER?
“Relaying to people the legal process and its time frames. A lot of times, clients will ask ‘How long will this take?’ and I have to explain the process. We have to serve a petition, wait 20 days, then we have to go to court to get it on the docket with the judge, then we have to file a motion. Probably most challenging is explaining the legal process and explaining why it takes so long. There’s procedure you have to follow. It’s frustrating because clients think I should be able to find anybody, anywhere. If I was a member of the FBI or CIA, I probably could. I really hate those T.V. shows that depict a shortened version of the legal process. That’s where the public picks up their opinions.
You’re not going to waltz into some judge’s office. There’s protocol that you follow. It can drag out.”
HER SPECIALTY?
“I have a general practice, but basically I practice family law. I would like to get more involved in juvenile justice. Going down to the courthouse and sitting in the courtroom, I watch these kids that are four feet, five feet tall at most, in full shackles and chains like an adult criminal. They march them into the room. During times I’ve gone down to the court to observe, there have been children that are in for delinquency and the parents don’t even show up for the hearing. It’s a sad situation to see little guys like that. You can barely see their heads over the edge of the bench they’re so small.”
OTHER PRACTICE AREAS?
“I do some contract work, trademark work, trusts, wills, a little probate. I also do misdemeanors and traffic violations. Family law is my passion at this point. The bad side is the built-up anger. They [divorcing spouses] don’t have to like each other but they do need to cooperate.”
is she FROM JACKSONVILLE?
“Originally, I’m from Northwest Ohio. I came down here to work.”
OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM
Graber is a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. She is also a cooperative attorney for Lambda Defense out of Atlanta, a legal network that connects people with gay-friendly attorneys. “People are afraid to walk in to see an attorney if they’re gay because of the history of the South. I don’t care who you are or what you are. If you need legal help, that’s why I’m here. Everybody deserves their day in court.”
WHERE DOES SHE LIVE?
Riverside. “We [she and her life partner] have two dogs and five cats.”
HOBBIES
“I just started kayaking. I got one on my 50th birthday, turned it over on my first day and had to swim back. I also have a Honda motor scooter that I use to putz around to garage sales. Riding in Key West is great.” She also enjoys horseback riding, trips to Disney World and Saturday morning cartoons.
— by Monica Chamness