Name: Brian James Lee
Age: 33
Family: Wife and three sons
Pets: Two dogs
Education: Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law; bachelor’s degree from Florida State University
Admitted to the Bar: June 2002
Employed by: Law Offices of Carl Scott Schuler, P.A.
Field of practice: Personal Injury, Disability and Consumer Law, including Debt Collection and Foreclosure Defense
Professional organizations: Member of the Florida Bar Association, Jacksonville Bar Association, Jacksonville Justice Association, Florida Justice Association and National Association of Consumer Advocates
Community involvement:
Member of the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Special Needs of Children Committee, Pro Bono for JaxKids project; member of board of directors for the Jericho School for Children with Autism; member of Arlington United Methodist Church
How did you get involved?
I got involved with the JBA’s Special Needs of Children Committee at a time when my sons were growing up themselves and had friends with special needs. With my wife also being a teacher in the Duval County public schools and teaching students with special needs, I was exposed to many children that seemed to be lost in the system with no one to fight for them. This JBA Committee and the Pro Bono for JaxKids Project that has been formed is a terrific way for attorneys to get involved in a child’s life and give these children just a fraction of our time to show them that they are not alone and someone will fight for them.
I became a member of the board of directors for the Jericho School for much of the same reasons, and to see what the Jericho School does for its students is amazing. I have been blessed to be around parents of kids with autism, students with autism and teachers that work with autistic students by doing work with the Jericho School. They are truly an inspiration. The Jericho School is somewhat of a hidden gem in Jacksonville, but it is nationally recognized and we should be proud to have this school in our community and should help keep them a success.
How can someone else get involved?
Those interested can contact me or join the Special Needs of Children Committee by contacting Marchllina Spigner or Jodi Seitlin, who are the co-chairs of our committee. To get involved with the Jericho School, please call me and also check their Web site at www.thejerichoschool.org to get more information about the school and how to help and get involved.
What have you learned/achieved through the experience?
I have learned that there is no greater purpose for us as lawyers and professionals than to make sure that the all but forgotten members of our community have someone to stand with them. So often, children are forgotten by our society and community at the time that they need us the most. I can think of no better use of time than to help a child in need. Quite literally, you will change a child’s life for the better, and there is no greater feeling than that.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
Probably a book about evidence, but my last “outside of law” book I read was “Odd Thomas” by Dean Koontz.