Florida Legal Services, Inc
2425 Torreya Drive
Tallahassee, FL  32303
Phone:  (850) 385-7900
Fax:  (850) 385-9998

Office Hours:  8:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday

The Tallahassee office is the main office of FLS and is home to the executive director, seven attorneys, the training coordinator, the fiscal and administrative staff, the executive director assistant and two support staff persons.  Policy advocacy, legislative and administrative, is a major responsibility for all of the advocates in the Tallahassee office.  The staff is very experienced and is also regularly engaged in court and administrative litigation.   FLS advocates have expertise in all the major legal areas impacting the low income community in Florida and the staff is available for consultation with all those providing civil legal assistance to low income and disadvantaged persons in Florida.  Statewide training and technical assistance is coordinated from the Tallahassee office

Kent Spuhler - Executive Director:  Received his undergraduate degree from Ohio State University in 1968 and his JD from Harvard Law School in 1972.  He accepted the position of staff attorney with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) in 1972, and continued in that position until he became Deputy Director there in 1978.  Three years later, he was promoted to Executive Director of JALA, and held that position until August, 1994.  Kent is now the Executive Director of Florida Legal Services, Inc.  He is also the Director of the Florida Supreme Court Voluntary Pro Bono Attorney Plan. This project works to increase the availability of legal services to the poor, as well as to increase both opportunities and support for lawyers to use their professional skills in providing pro bono legal services to the poor.  To e-mail, click here.

Anne Swerlick - Deputy Director, Staff Attorney:  Specializes in legislative and administrative advocacy and litigation on health and elder law issues affecting the poor.  Ms. Swerlick was formerly employed as Managing Attorney with the Advocacy Center for Persons With Disabilities, Inc. (1987- 1991) and as staff attorney and Deputy Director with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (1977-1987) Ms. Swerlick received her BA from the University of Virginia and her JD from the University of Virginia School of Law.  To e-mail, click here.

Robert A Williams - Director, Migrant Farmworker Justice Project:  Specializes in employment law involving migrant and seasonal farmworkers.  Graduated with a BA in Economics, University of Michigan 1971, received JD from Harvard law School 1975.  Was a staff attorney with Florida Rural Legal Services from 1975 - 1991, when he became Florida Rural Legal Services legislative and administrative advocate in Tallahassee.  Joined Florida Legal Services in 1996.  To e-mail, click here.

Janet Anthony - Attorney Assistant:  To e-mail, click here.

Dorene Barker - Legislative Advocate:  Lobbies in the areas of public benefits, housing, health, family law and consumer law.  Graduated cum laude from Florida State University 1982 with an undergraduate degree in Education and a minor in Political Science; JD Florida State University 1986  Admitted to Florida Bar in 1987.  To e-mail, click here.

Viletta Coombs - Staff Attorney: Viletta received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and her JD from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston,Massachusetts. Viletta has experience in public and private law offices in Florida, Georgia, and Missouri. Prior to joining FLS, Viletta clerked for the Jackson County Circuit Court and the Missouri Court of Appeals-WD in Kansas City, Missouri. Viletta is a member of the Florida Bar. At FLS, Viletta advocates for low income families. To email, send to viletta (at) floridalegal.org.

Suzanne V Estrella - Staff Attorney:  Graduated from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1991, she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Oral Roberts University in 1988.  Mrs. Estralla previously served on the Domestic Violence Hotline as a part-time staff attorney and is currently a full-time attorney on the Domestic Violence Hotline.  Prior to working with Florida Legal Services, Mrs. Estrella worked in state  government as a senior attorney for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  To email, click here.

Boni Gregory - Administrator:  Office and financial manager.  Responsibilities include budget management, personnel matters and general office assistance for four offices.  To e-mail, click here.

Amy K. Guinan – Attorney:   A member of the Florida Bar since 1998, Amy earned her law degree from the Florida State University College of Law and completed her undergraduate studies at Loyola University at New Orleans.  Prior to joining the FLS team, Amy was in private practice in the area of Consumer Protection Class Actions. She also previously served as the Legislative Counsel for the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, as the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, and as the Attorney for the Florida House of Representatives’ Committee on Health Care Services. At FLS, Amy’s legal work encompasses a broad range of practice areas in addition to her work in the area of legislative advocacy.  To e-mail, click here

Cindy Huddleston - Staff Attorney:  Specializes in public benefits law, is a 1982 graduate of Case Western University School of Law and has been a lawyer with Florida Legal Services for more than nine years.  Prior to coming to FLS, Cindy was on staff at Legal Services of Greater Miami for over five years, where she was co-unit head of the Public Benefits Unit.  Over the past twelve years, Cindy has been a public benefits advocate for low-income families with state agencies and the Florida Legislature as well as providing representation in federal and state litigation.  To e-mail, click here.

Sheila Meehan – Pro Bono Developer: Responsible for working with private law firms to develop pro bono opportunities with legal services programs throughout the state. Sheila earned her B.A. degree in English from the University of South Florida where she also attended graduate school majoring in Political Science. Previously she was the Pro Bono Administrator for a major law firm in Florida and was also a corporate researcher and organizer for labor unions in Washington, D.C.  To e-mail click here.

Dionne L. Meyers – Attorney:  A native of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, Dionne received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University and her JD from Campbell University’s School of Law in 1997.  Prior to joining Florida Legal Services, Inc., Dionne accepted a Judicial Clerkship with the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.  She later served the Virgin Islands community in the capacity of Assistant Attorney General with the Virgin Islands Department of Justice.  Dionne is a member of the North Carolina Bar, Virgin Islands Bar and the Florida Bar.  At FLS, Dionne serves as a lobbyist in addition to her work in the areas of Health and Family Law.  To e-mail, click here.

Kris Rocco - Assistant to Executive Director:  Born and raised in Tallahassee, Kris is a 14 year veteran in law enforcement.  For 2 years she worked with the FBI task force on violent crimes, cold case murders, and 9/11.  She has worked closely with domestic violence issues throughout the southeast and has provided training in officer response to domestic violence.  Kris has served as team leader for a multi-agency crisis negotiation team.  She currently is a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree. To e-mail, click here.

Blanca Schuknecht - Receptionist:  Serves as receptionist and provides general office support. Speaks Spanish.  Ella habla espanol.  To e-mail, para enviarle e-mail, click here.

Alice Vickers - Staff Attorney:  Specializes in housing and consumer rights for the poor, primarily through legislative advocacy. Formerly employed as Staff Attorney and Managing Attorney with Atlanta Legal Aid Society and as staff attorney with Three Rivers Legal Services. She has been with FLS since 1991. Received her BS from the Florida State University and her JD from the University of Georgia School of Law.  To e-mail, click here.

Leonard Van Noord - Capital Campaign Director

Bonnie Koon - Medicaid/Medicare Intake Helpline Specialist

Patti McIlroy - Attorney Assistant

Shirley Spuhler - Project Coordinator, Healthcare Fairness Project

Dustin Holbert - Student Assistant

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