Governmental law offers its best rewards when one wins cases against the state that improve things for citizens, said Uhlfelder, citing as examples his legal successes securing for a large technology company the right to start online registration for driver’s licenses and with helping to secure the contract for the Florida Comprehensive  Assessment Test (FCAT), part of the state’s plan to increase student achievement.

But the downside with governmental law is that there’s not enough time for everyone to gain access, leaving those with less power and influence at a disadvantage. “That’s part of the process that troubles me,” he said. ”So I use my influence with both big businesses and pro-bono work. I think every lawyer should strike a balance between the two.” Of particular interest to Uhlfelder are at-risk children. He chairs the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative for at-risk children, and he received the national Daily Point of Light Award in October for his commitment to public service. His goal is to increase his pro bono work to 50 percent or more of his practice within a few years.

Though he encourages people to get involved in governmental law, Uhlfelder advises them to have a realistic attitude. “You aren’t always going to be representing a client with whom you totally agree, but they must be reputable and well-respected to associate with them in the governmental process,” he said. “Remember, in government things are gray rather than black and white. You learn this with experience. We must always remember that no matter who we represent you must respect the integrity of the political process.”

“I always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and I wanted the independence, flexibility and ability to assume full responsibility for cases,” says Kirkconnell, who earned both his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Florida. “Practicing in a small firm provides the opportunity to do it all.”

Kirkconnell says his FBI background also provides credibility to other law enforcement agents. He was one of the first lawyers to be certified in criminal law by The Florida Bar and is a former president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Kirkconnell’s clients have included professional athletes, judges, lawyers, physicians, housewives, school kids, and foreign nationals. He handles cases ranging from misdemeanors to complex federal white collar fraud prosecutions and death penalty cases.

Kirkconnell, who serves on the Executive Committee of The Florida Bar General Practice, Small Firm and Solo Practice Section, encourages students to remember they are entering a “service profession” where developing a solid reputation for providing good service and maintaining good relationships with everyone is paramount. “Practicing law is rewarding because you can help good people who have gotten in bad trouble,” says Kirkconnell, whose daughter Cindy K. Krauss is also a UF Law graduate, practicing in Houston.  

After over three decades of practicing law in Ft. Lauderdale, UF Law alum Mike McNerney offers this advice to students seeking to practice law in South Florida:

“Clerk, clerk, clerk! Besides the traditional resume items, the best thing you can add to your legal experience coming out of law school is clerking. It makes a good resume great and a mediocre resume better.”

McNerney practiced law in Ft. Lauderdale for 31 years with the firm he founded with partners Mike Brinkley and Phil Morgan. His practice areas included all types of litigation dealing with banking, property, construction, land use, probate, viatical settlements, and contested matters before governmental and administrative bodies.

McNerney is considered a national authority on viatical and life settlements and has contributed to the drafting of laws in numerous states dealing with their regulation. He is a past chair and current member of the UF Law Board of Trustees.

McNerney has recently begun a new phase in his career. He is now general counsel for Integrity, a holding and financial services company based in Great Britain that is just setting up its U.S. operations.

“It’s interesting how careers can be serendipitous,” he said. “My antitrust law professor suggested I apply for a position with the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division through their honors program. I was accepted and used that as springboard first to a corporate practice with a law firm in Washington, D.C., and then to joining Motorola.”

Selby found that the more he worked with business, the more he enjoyed the diversity of the experience. For those out there just beginning their careers, he said, consider that a corporate practice in- volves virtually every area of law, which provides for a rich range of potential experiences.

“Over the course of my career, I have handled everything from M&A to employ- ee terminations, criminal investigations, FDA regulatory matters and international dispute resolution,” Selby explained. “I’ve had experience in court and in the boardroom. The opportunity to provide legal advice and counseling that shapes a global business icon like Motorola has been extremely satisfying.”

Asked to name the hot legal issues in corporate practice today, Selby doesn’t hesitate. The answer is compliance.

“For a publicly traded, major international corporation like Motorola, the impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has been enor- mous,” he said. “The cost of compliance is immense, but it pales in comparison to the business risk if you don’t do it right. Motorola prides itself on its commitment to business ethics.”