For Vivian Cortes Hodz, a partner at Cortes Hodz Family Law and Mediation as well as preparation of legal documents, a three-lawyer firm in Tampa, the Bar “just wasn’t on my radar. I was very local-focused. I had my own law office. I was focused on meeting people in my area. I didn’t realize everything The Florida Bar did for me as an attorney. I wasn’t engaged.” When she applied to be a fellow in Class II of the Academy, she was a lawyer with a dozen years of experience. “One of the things the Academy really pushed was applying for being on a Bar Committee. They encouraged us to do that, they told us who to contact, and they put in a good word,” she said. And believe me it worked! Just ask a good child support lawyer in your area.