The Yazgi Law Firm is the general practice of attorney Tonia Yazgi [pronounced yähz-gee] in the St. Nicholas area.
WHY ST. NICHOLAS?
“The true story is my cousin and brother-in-law own this shopping center and Mudville Grille so the rent is good. This is also a good location because it’s central to downtown and it has parking.”
WHAT PRACTICE AREAS ARE DOMINANT?
Despite operating a general practice, the majority of Yazgi’s cases are in the areas of litigation, business law and real estate.
HOW DID SHE GET INTO THESE AREAS?
“The clientele I developed were more oriented to business law. Then, as my practice developed further, people called me about all kinds of other areas. A general practice provides an additional mental challenge.”
WHAT CASES WON’T SHE TAKE?
Criminal defense, family law, employment law and environmental law. “They are more specialized areas, so I refer them to others.”
WHY NOT SPECIALIZE?
“I specialized in medical negligence and professional liability for so long, I was getting tired of the area. My concept of an attorney growing up was a general practitioner. If you saw attorneys portrayed in the movies or on television, they catered to ordinary people. And, ordinary people have a variety of needs. As a general practitioner, I am able to accommodate a lot of interests my clients have.”
300 HATS
“Most challenging is doing everything. I wear 300 hats. I do a lot of organizational work and a lot of my own secretarial work. I handle everything but the books. My sister assists with the bookkeeping.”
WHY DOESN’T SHE HAVE A STAFF?
“I did have a legal assistant for a couple of years who was also a paralegal, but I found I was doing it all myself anyway. The cost issue was a small part of it. The larger part is the control I get to exercise. I know exactly what is happening in my office in every area. There may come a point when I need to bring someone else in but, if you’re very organized, you can do it.”
WHAT IS HER GOAL FOR THE FIRM?
“To make money. Actually, my true goal is to sustain my practice, pay my bills and offer quality representation.”
WHY GO INTO LAW?
“I always excelled in communicating with people so I had a natural proclivity towards that. Secondly, I had three brothers who were lawyers so that probably influenced me. Most importantly, I was reared with a sense of justice and the American Dream. I try to offer quality representation in a way that’s most fair. It gives me something to fight for.”
HOMETOWN
Jacksonville.
WHAT BROUGHT HER BACK TO TOWN?
“I love Jacksonville. I returned in 1986 to take a job with Cowles, Hayden, Facciolo, McMorrow & Barfield. Up north is a little too cold for me and New Orleans is a little too fun for me. Jacksonville is my home. My family is here.”
WHERE DOES HER LAST NAME ORIGINATE?
“I am the daughter of two immigrants from Syria. My mother came here when she was about 10. She went back and married my father, a grocer who is now retired. She had a strong love for education so she made sure all of her children were well-educated.”
BIG FAMILY
Yazgi is the sixth of seven children. Rogih, one of her brothers, took a position as general counsel with a New York textile company after graduating from Harvard Law School. Aldo and George are two other brothers that also hold law degrees. George’s wife, Susan, is an attorney at the Public Defender’s Office. Her oldest sister and office assistant, Sylvia, is a homemaker and retired teacher.
IVY LEAGUE
For her bachelor’s degree in English, Yazgi attended Dartmouth College. She graduated Tulane Law School in 1985. Three of her brothers are Dartmouth alumni and one of her brothers graduated from Duke Law School.
WHERE ELSE HAS SHE WORKED?
After several years with the Cowles firm, she joined Matthews, Osborne, et al, and started her own firm in 2000. She began her legal career as a clerk for a law firm in New Orleans.
CLUBBING
Yazgi is a member of numerous organizations including the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association, the Medical Legal Coalition, the Jacksonville Women’s Network, the Salaam Club of Florida and she is chair of the small firm committee of the Jacksonville Bar Association.
WHAT IS THE JACKSONVILLE WOMEN’S NETWORK?
“It is an organization comprised of the top women leaders in Jacksonville from a variety of fields. It provides me an opportunity to meet some very impressive women in Jacksonville, to network, gain insight into their areas, promote the firm and community involvement.”
HOBBIES?
An avid reader, Yazgi is a member of the book club at the Women’s Center. She enjoys traveling, movies and shopping. She also likes playing sports such as baseball, basketball and football.
HER PET PEEVE?
“I hate it when people fabricate things. I am not a subtle person so I don’t take well to those that lie and manipulate.”
— by Monica Tsai