Gerald Laverne Wilkerson II

I joined the United States Army at the age of 17.  I turned 18 during my 15 mile road march in basic training.  I served my time in Germany and received an Honorable Discharge in 1989, just before Desert Storm.  I worked full-time and attended college at night finally receiving my Bachelor's Degree with Honors in 1997.  I attended Law School in Gainesville at the University of Florida Law School and graduated with honors in 2000.  During Law School I worked part-time at the labor pool, and as a school security guard, and had a clerkship in Leesburg Florida for one Summer. My first job out of Law School was with the Public Defender's Office in Jacksonville, Florida.  I had a huge caseload and represented indigent people who were accused of crimes.  I took many cases to trial and learned the hard way, but right way, how to do criminal defense work.  I then decided to join the private work force and got my first job with a small private firm in 2002 where I started the Criminal and Family Law Section of the firm.  I learned the ropes during my time with this firm and then decided to start my own practice in 2005.  Since that time, my caseload has continued to grow, and I bought my own law building in 2010.  I continue to focus on criminal and family law, and believe that the first principle in running a successful law practice is to have empathy and respect for each and every client, and to LISTEN to their concerns, and get them what THEY want, not what I think they want.