Paula Brice is the president of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association and a family law attorney for Harris, Guidi, Rosner, Dunlap, Rudolph, Catlin and Bethea, P.A. She attended law school at the University of Florida and her husband, Thomas, is also an attorney for the McGuire Woods firm.
She has been a lawyer for 10 years and moved to Jacksonville from Lakeland six years ago. She spoke with Carrie Resch of the Daily Record staff.
How did you get involved with the JWLA?
“When I moved to Jacksonville, I wanted to become involved with the legal community. I went to one luncheon and enjoyed meeting the other lawyers. A year or two later, I got involved with thee board, I’ve been involved with the board about four years and a member for five.”
What do you like about the organization?
“I think it’s a great way to meet other women in the local bar association. A lot of women you have cases against and you don’t really get a chance to talk with them, and this gives you the opportunity to socialize with them. It’s also an opportunity to meet the judges and other influential people in Jacksonville through their being a speaker or their support for the organization. Being involved really made Jacksonville my home and really involved me in the professional community as well.”
Board work?
“In 2001 I was on the board, I was secretary for two years and president-elect for one year. I’ve been president since June and it’s a one, year term.”
Are you involved with any other organizations?
“Quite a few. I’m the secretary of the Catholic Lawyers Guild, The Fourth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, which I’ve served as secretary since 2003; Florida Family Law Inn of Court, volunteer with Duval County Guardian Ad Litem Program, and a member of the Junior League.”
What kind of law do you practice?
“Family law. I started in a general practice firm in Lakeland that was about 50 percent family law and 50 percent other civil matters. I worked for one year with another firm when I first moved to Jacksonville and I’ve been practicing family law with my current firm for five years.”
What do you like best about your job?
“I like my firm and the people I work with. I like the autonomy but at the same time I like the support of 13 other attorneys. I like the Jacksonville Bar Association a lot. I found that they are very cordial and there are a lot of great people to be associated with. It’s just a nice community to work in.”
Most challenging?
“In family law, I deal with a lot of emotional issues and people going through the hardest and most stressful things in their life. It’s sometimes difficult to stay objective and not get personally involved.”