Today we’d like to introduce you to Samah Abukhodeir.
Hi Samah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I never dreamt of becoming an attorney. As long as I could remember, it had always been my dream to be a doctor but just as the saying goes nothing in life ever turns out the way we plan it. Following high school, I moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a Minor in Arabic and Child Development at Florida State University. My senior year of College, I took the GRE and the LSAT because I wasn’t sure which career I wanted to focus on. I eventually applied to law school and was accepted, but even a week before law school started, I was still contemplating between a Master’s in Mental Health or a law degree. I ultimately decided I would benefit more from a law degree since it could open doors to various opportunities- and it did.
In 2013, I obtained my Juris Doctor from Florida International University College of Law. While in law school, I started practicing probate law and as soon as I graduated and passed the bar, I continued practicing in this area. In 2016, I was afforded the opportunity to teach at my alma mater, something I had always wanted to do. Since then, I have been teaching as an adjunct professor in the Honors College at Florida International University and absolutely enjoy it.
In September of 2018, I decided to open my own law firm allowing me to become a business owner and managing partner and as of today we are a team of 20 members in Coral Gables, Florida serving the entire state of Florida.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been far from a smooth road but it has definitely taught me a lot and I continue to learn every day.
I never pictured myself as a business owner, much less a law firm owner, but I know that this is my calling as I’ve been able to build a law firm in less than three years which embodies my values and the work culture that I envisioned for myself and my team.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I founded The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm three years ago, on September 10, 2018. We started with just myself and my part-time law clerk, Anwar Hadeed, who is now working as an Associate Attorney in the probate department at the firm. We quickly grew from 2 members of the firm to now twenty and counting!
In addition, I have worked really hard to sit on multiple associations and boards to bring in a different perspective to the table. I have been awarded the Super Lawyer Rising Star award and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rated for highest level of professional excellence. I’m a past Fellow of the Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section and also sit on the Florida Probate Rules Committee, the 11th Judicial Circuit Court Grievance Committee, and am a Vice President of the Dade County Bar Association Probate and Guardianship Committee. I am a current Civil Society Fellow with the Aspen Institute.
My team and I focus on Probate, Guardianship, and Family Law issues. My vision for my firm has always been to help families across the state of Florida navigate through the difficulties that often arise from issues in probate and family law matters. We help families going through the toughest times of their lives; death and divorce. In 2020 the FLPFL firm was selected as one of the top 19 Family law firms in Miami. We continue to grow but will always remain believing that our work is to build relationships and not cases. We pride ourselves in the customer service we give our clients and understanding their needs during their hardest times.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
A successful law firm isn’t built by just the owner; I credit my team for all their hard work and helping build the firm for what it is today. In addition to my team, I’ve had a mentor since my third year of law school, whom I’m still in contact with today named Tomas Gamba, who continues to provide me with advice and lends an ear whenever I need!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@flpfl.com
- Website: www.flpfl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flpflaw/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridaprobatefamilylawyer
- TikTok: @flpflaw
- Twitter: @flpflaw
Image Credits
Jose Mena Diaz
