Orlando Insurance and Personal Injury Attorney
Maria D. Hale is a founding partner of Hale, Hale & Jacobson, P.A. She has been a practicing member of the Florida Bar since 1999. Over the years, Maria has had the unique opportunity to practice many areas of the law; insurance defense, products liability, slip and falls, personal injury, first party insurance disputes, domestic injunctions, family law matters, and traffic and criminal matters. She has practiced in Federal, State, civil, criminal, circuit, county and traffic court.
A native of Central Florida, Maria has a deep love for her community and its people. She attended the University of Central Florida and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/Legal Studies. At Stetson University College of Law, Maria competed nationally with the mock trial and client counseling team. Her love for trial work grew and after earning her Juris Doctorate from Stetson, Maria became an Assistant State Attorney with the Pinellas County State Attorney’s office. As a prosecutor, Maria learned many valuable courtroom lessons and gained hours of litigation experience.Maria has coached mock trial teams throughout the state, has previously been a teaching assistant in trial advocacy, and was selected to train and critique young Florida Prosecutors DUI prosecution techniques for the Florida Prosecuting Attorney Association Train the Trainers Program. Also, as a Prosecutor, she served on the DUI Manslaughter Special Prosecution Unit.
Extensive Criminal Law Experience
Maria is a results oriented attorney, with a passion for helping people resolve their legal matters, swiftly and fairly. Her extensive experience in the law allows her to assist and encourage each client who steps into her office. Maria is proud to be a Martindale Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated “Preeminent” Attorney. Orlando Home & Leisure named Maria in “Orlando’s Top Lawyers for Highest Ethical Standards and Professional Ethics”. In 2011, network television hired Maria as a correspondent on various legal topics. She was regularly featured on FOX News, HLN and MSNBC, amongst others.
Maria gives back to the legal community by serving on various associations and committees including: the Florida Bar Grievance Committee; the Florida Bar Code and Evidence Committee; the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism; George C. Young First Central Florida Inns of Court; Orange County Bar Association; Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers; and previously the Young Lawyers Section. In an effort to impact future lawyers, Maria has served as an adjunct professor at Barry University School of Law. One of Maria’s proudest volunteer efforts stems from her role as a Guardian ad Litem. As a GAL, she helps children who have been abused, abandoned or neglected.
Maria is an active member of the Spring of Life Methodist Church congregation where she has led several Bible studies and continuously serves on the Strategic Planning Committee and the Children’s Ministry Committee. Maria’s most precious achievement is her family. Married to her best friend and partner, Richard, since 2005, they have two beautiful girls: Melaina and Carrington. As a family, the Hales love to travel and spend time at the local parks and beaches and take in all the excitement Central Florida has to offer.
Experience
Former State Attorney DUI Manslaughter Special Prosecution Unit
Former Prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office
Florida Prosecuting Attorney Association Trainer and Critiquer
Teaching Assistant in Trial Advocacy, Stetson University College of Law
Mock Trial Coach, Pinellas Park High School, Stetson University and Barry University
Education
Juris Doctorate (J.D.), Stetson University College of Law, 1998
Bar Admissions
State Bar of Florida, 1999