Marelize Dingman: From Family Law to Firm Administrator
Marelize began her journey with Florida Appeals thanks to a recommendation from her former boss, retired Fifth District Court of Appeal judge Bill Palmer. Marelize began her legal career with a varied background, having worked as an immigration law paralegal and international adoption advocate. Her career took a pivotal turn when Bill recommended her to Shannon McLin, founder of Florida Appeals. Shannon recognized Marelize’s potential and offered her the position, which Marelize describes as the best decision of her life. Shannon’s trust in her employees’ abilities has been empowering for Marelize, allowing her to thrive in her role. Since joining Florida Appeals, Marelize has become the backbone of our administrative team, ensuring everything runs smoothly and our clients feel supported every step of the way.
A Pro Bono Victory: A Testament to Team Dedication
One of the most memorable cases Marelize recalls at Florida Appeals involved a 5-year-old child who had been taken from her father based on the trial court’s sua sponte interpretation of the assisted reproductive technology statute. The father retained Florida Appeals to seek to overturn the trial court’s decision, and when the client ran out of funds, the entire firm agreed to continue working on the case pro bono, dedicating more than 150 hours to the effort. The father prevailed on appeal which resulted in his being reunited with his daughter. The collaborative process at Florida Appeals, where lawyers review and provide input on the firm’s work, ensures that clients receive comprehensive and thoughtful legal representation. Marelize is proud of our top-notch trial support and appellate work, and of our unwavering commitment to pro bono appeals.