from staff
Jacksonville attorney Jodi Seitlin has been elected to the board of directors of Florida’s Children First (FCF), a statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk children. Seitlin started with FCF in 2006 by serving as a host committee member for the non-profit’s successful annual Jacksonville fundraiser, and the group’s Local Advisory Board.
Her children’s advocacy work began in 1985 when she first became a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer in her hometown of Miami.
“As I grew familiar with the juvenile dependency and related legal systems in place at that time, I became convinced that as an attorney I could make a significant contribution to improving the lives of children in state care,” said Seitlin.
Seitlin owns a private practice law firm, The Seitlin Law Firm, P.A., which provides legal services in all matters relating to families and children. Her legal background also includes work as a trial lawyer in the Seventh and Fourth Judicial Circuit Courts representing the department in dependency and termination of parental rights actions, as well as a member of the Mental Health and “Crossover Kids” subcommittees for the Dependency Court Improvement Project in Dist. 12.
In addition to her work with FCF, Seitlin is active in the Florida Bar’s Family Law Section. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Domestic Violence Committee where she helps to develop legislative reform to address the increased risk of death posed to domestic violence victims and their children where firearms are involved. Seitlin recently joined the Florida Bar Legal Needs of Children Committee, where she is currently working on legislative reform to address a child’s right to legal representation.
Seitlin also served as Vice President of Professional Development for the Jacksonville Women Lawyers’ Association, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Volusia County Board of Directors and Chair of the Special Needs of Children Committee of the Jacksonville Bar Association. Seitlin also began the ProBonoForJaxKids Project in 2008.