Maggie Jo Hilliard, Esq.
On the 25th Anniversary of her father's certified public accounting firm, Hilliard & Fisher, CPA's in Kentucky, Maggie Jo Hilliard began the Law Office of Maggie Jo Hilliard, P.A. in Jacksonville, Florida.
Maggie Jo was born and raised in Kentucky where she attended Western Kentucky University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Print Journalism and Advertising with a minor in Government. At WKU, Maggie Jo was a member of the Golden Key National Honors Society and a charter member of Gamma Beta Phi Honors Fraternity. She was an active participant in the Advertising and Graphic Design Program, working hard to be the most award-winning student in her class. She was named the Most Outstanding Student by her professors and led her fellow students in national advertising campaign competitions as a project director. In addition to awards from her professors, she won second place in the National Advertising Student Competition Regional Finals, received a Silver Award at the Nashville S.T.A.R. Advertising Design Competition, was recognized as an honorable mention in the Memphis Pushpin Restaurant Design Competition and received a scholarship after winning First Place in the AdFed Essay Competition.
She moved to Jacksonville to attend Florida Coastal School of Law because she was prepared to take on another challenge. She completed law school in two and a half years, with the goal of combining her creativity and the law upon completion. Maggie Jo understands that zealous advocacy requires the marketing of a perspective, and the selling of a point of view to the court, opposing counsel and juries.
While studying, Maggie Jo was very active in the community and at Florida Coastal School of Law. She was a Certified Guardian Ad Litem, Comprehensive Law Fellow, American Bar Association Student Member and took an active leadership role in the Student Pro Bono Committee as the Assistant Student Director. As a Legislator in the Student Bar Association, she advocated for her fellow students and undertook the duties of the Promotions Chair to help the group gain more support internally and in the local community. Her membership in the Jacksonville Women Lawyer's Association helped her to gain insight into the legal profession as a student and aspiring attorney. She was the Treasurer for the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and a charter member of the Sports and Entertainment Law Association. Additionally, she gained both WestLaw and LexisNexis research systems certifications.
As a law student, Maggie Jo sought the experience of three entities to guide her career decisions, working at a medium-sized civil litigation firm, clerking at a sole practitioner's family law firm and interning at the State Attorney's Office as a Certified Legal Intern. It was these experiences that helped to guide Maggie Jo to gain a vast array of legal knowledge in varying areas of the law.
In her first job as a lawyer, at the State Attorney's Office, Maggie Jo was an Assistant State Attorney for Duval and Clay Counties where she obtained trial experience and developed a passion for assisting victims and animals. Utilizing her small town charm, intelligence and ability to relate to jurors, she found success in gaining jury rapport and won trials while maintaining large case loads.
After entering private practice, Maggie Jo has participated in civil and criminal trial work, primarily focusing on Criminal Defense (state and federal) and Family Law issues. Additionally, she has advised and represented corporations and individuals in civil cases such as landlord/tenant disputes, small claims court issues, property conflicts, contract disputes, creditor's actions and personal injury cases. Maggie Jo is also an experienced transactional law attorney and can assist you with wills, trusts, power of attorney documents and individual contracts.
Using her skills as a graphic designer, she assists small businesses in development from concept to completion through business naming, identification, domain name acquisition, state registration, licensing, contracts and advice. Her diverse knowledge in corporate registration and IRS filings is helpful to small business clients as the Law Office of Maggie Jo Hilliard, P.A. becomes a one-stop-shop for all business needs from advertising and marketing, creative development, public relations and legal representation. In order to assist with all of her clients' needs, she has additionally begun Gemini Theory, Inc., a company that assists creative businesses in becoming more profitable and adding creativity to businesses lacking creative design and marketing capabilities.
Maggie Jo's diverse background and years of experience can help a start-up business make financially sound initial decisions to bring about the future growth essential to survival in the competitive market.
Using her creative spirit and legal skills to assist small businesses in marketing and development efforts, while undertaking traditional legal practice areas, she also assists businesses in developing a legal entity that receives beneficial tax treatment and liability protection. Furthermore, Maggie Jo utilizes her knowledge of the professional regulations associated with various business entities to guide her clients through approval processes required by governing agencies for various marketing efforts.
As an active creative artist and graphic designer, Maggie Jo also enjoys photography and canvas painting for pleasure. She has sold many paintings and provided her services pro bono to assist community service efforts, small business owners, political candidates and war veterans. Maggie Jo designed the covers of the Mercy Medial Airlift book entitled Sacred Glances, edited by Suzanne Rhodes, and local writer, Asaf Rubina's recent fiction publication.
In 2009, Maggie Jo was honored to take First Place in the Annual ArtUnleashed competition and auction benefiting First Coast No More Homeless Pets. As a lifetime pet owner, Maggie Jo continues to feel a duty to the animals of this world. She advocates and hosts fundraisers for their benefit frequently.
Since 2007, Maggie Jo's Merry Charity event has benefited local charities in raising holiday donations for the benefit of those they serve. In 2009, over 200 local lawyers, professionals and students participated in the event where over 2,000 donations were collected.
Maggie Jo has a natural sense of duty to her clients, and an innate ability to relate to the needs of those she represents. Her passionate advocacy, educational background and experience as a litigation attorney make her more than an attorney - she's your attorney. She is a zealous advocate, motivated attorney and creative thinker that can help you to achieve beneficial results.
Professional Licenses
• Florida Bar Association
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Professional Associations and Memberships
• Jacksonville Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Phi Alpha Delta
• Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL)
Community Associations & Involvement
• Jacksonville Urban League, Board of Directors
• Guardian Ad Litem Foundation Board of Directors
• High Heels & Hearts Professional Women's Charity Group, President • "Merry Charity" Holiday Event benefiting local charities, Founder & Planner
• Cystic Fibrosis "Single Greatest Night" Honoree, Top 10 Fundraisers
• Volunteer Art Teacher for students at the North Florida School
• Ally, Supporter, Pro Bono Counsel & Volunteerfor JASMYN
• Special Olympics Volunteer
• Children's Home Society Christmas Gift Drive
• Race for the Cure Participant
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Volunteer
• Bachelor/ette Auction Benefiting the North Florida School, Raffle Chair
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