Michele Suzanne Stephan

Bar Cerification

Michele S. Stephan was certified in 2013 by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Court Mediator.

Education
Michele S. Stephan graduated from the University of South Florida, College of Humanities, in 1989. She graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1996 and was admitted to the Florida Bar the same year. While attending Stetson University College of Law, Ms. Stephan was granted a Public Service Fellowship by the Florida Bar Foundation, developed a program to provide legal services to persons of modest means and volunteered time at pro-bono legal clinics. Ms. Stephan was awarded the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award in 1996.

Experience
Ms. Stephan has been practicing in Sarasota, Florida for 20 years.  In her carreer, she has successfullly handled matters involving family law, landlord tenant, name change, probate/guardianship, wills/trusts/poa, money disputes, contract disputes and personal injury.  She has litigated matters involving the violation of nursing home resident's rights, defective products, defective medical devices, Federal civil rights violations, international child abduction under the Hague Convention and international matters involving civil theft and fraud. She is admitted to practice in all of the Florida State Courts and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.  In addition to her trial experience, Ms. Stephan has also handled appellate matters before the Second District Court of Appeals. 

Activities, Associations and Awards
Ms. Stephan has a longstanding commitment to helping low income and indigent persons in need of legal services.  She was awarded the 2015 Distingushed Community Service Award from the Sarasota County Bar Association, was awarded the 2015, 2014 and 2011 Service to the Community Award by Legal Aid of Manasota, was awarded the 2008 Member of the Year award from the Sarasota County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers and was recognized by the Supreme Court of Florida in 2007 for outstanding pro-bono service. Ms. Stephan runs a weekly legal clinic at the Resurrection House day shelter rendering legal services to the homeless.   

She has also been committed to serving the legal profession and the community.   Ms. Stephan is a current board member and past president of the Sarasota County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, a past editor of the Sarasota County Bar Association legal newspaper "The Docket", a Master Emeritus of the Judge John M. Scheb American Inn of Court, a member of  the Manasota Trial Lawyers Board, a member of The Florida Justice Association and a member of the Sarasota County Bar Association.  She has most recently joined the Friedns of the Selby Public Library as a board member.  

Ms. Stephan has turned her passion for assisting others into a law practice geared to helping Pro Se Litigants navigate their legal cases in a competent and empowered manner.  All people, regardless of economic status, deserve access to the Courts and their day in Court.  This is not an easy path in today's specialized legal environment.   Ms. Stephan's law firm, Sui Juris, P.A. (which translates to "competent in one's self" ) will guide the Pro Se Litigant through their legal case in a cost effective and efficient manner.  Ms. Stephan works with her clients on an hourly or flat fee basis -- with no large retainer necessary -- so as to offer the client as much or as little assistance as they need.  Ms. Stephan wants to take the confusion and fear out of the pro se process, empower the litigant through knowledge of the law and the legal process so that at the end of the day, the the Pro Se Litigant feels that justice has been served.