Name: Stephanie M. Ross
Age: 26
Family: Parents: Steve and Connie; brother, Nick; sister, Sarah; and a multitude of cousins, aunts and uncles ,
Pets: Mister Belvedere the cat, aka “Belly.”
Education: B.S. in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University, 2006, with two minors in English and Philosophy; J.D., Florida Coastal School of Law, 2009.
Admitted to the Bar: September 2009
Employed by: The Law Office of Maggie Jo Hilliard, P.A.
Field of Practice: Family law, personal injury and criminal defense.
Professional Organizations: American Bar Association, The Jacksonville Bar Association
Community Involvement: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, “honoree” for the Single Greatest Night event, pledging to raise money for the organization via donations and events; Merry Charity, a yearly holiday party benefiting seven charities sponsored by the Law Office of Maggie Jo Hilliard; and St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church Philoptochos and YAL.
How did you get involved?
Volunteering through my church has always been a part of my life, from a very young age. But as soon as I was licensed as an attorney, I expressed interest in charitable work and/or community involvement in all of my networking and social endeavors. Some panned out, others didn’t, but either way I was willing to commit the time. Through associating myself with individuals who are already active in our community, I was contacted with the opportunity to participate in the ‘Single Greatest Night’ and accepted. I believe it is important to find causes that you truly believe in to get the most out of your work.
How can someone else get involved?
Find an organization that is close to you (emotionally, or physically, if you don’t have a car) and contact them with your offer of volunteer services. You may be busy already, but you’ll be surprised what you’ll make time for once someone is depending on you.
What have you learned/achieved through the experience?
Chance encounters can lead to great things! So you should probably always be polite.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
“Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling (in preparation for the movie, of course).