Maureen Horkan
As a Jacksonville attorney, Maureen Horkan has a passion for advocating
and crafting cutting-edge legal strategies on behalf of local residents.
By doing so, she is able to successfully protect their rights and defend
them from injustice. She first began her practice by representing employees
facing discrimination in the workplace, students discriminated against
in schools, and protecting the best interests of low-income families in
family law proceedings. In law school, Ms. Horkan's worth ethic and
diligent approach to the law earned her the highest achievement for Dissolution
of Marriage, Jurisprudence, Poverty Law, Women and Law, and several other
courses. As an experienced, strong, and compelling litigator, clients
who come to her seeking legal guidance can trust that they're case
is in good hands.
Ms. Horkan worked as Assistant State Attorney in Jacksonville and as Assistant
Statewide Prosecutor in Northeast Florida before going on to be founding
Director of Florida's Child Predator Cyber Crime Unit. She is well
known in the community and industry for her commitment to provide the
highest quality of legal advocacy to the clients she represents. Her willingness
to go above and beyond for her clients sets her apart from other legal
professionals - when the laws are unfair, you can trust that Ms. Horkan
will fight for what is right. In addition to writing numerous legislative
bills to protect children and improve current laws, Ms. Horkan is responsible
for authoring a law that made Florida the first state in the nation to
grant rights to child victims - the
Exploited Children's Rights Act. It's her dedication and standard of professionalism that made Ms.
Horkan a deserving recipient of the prestigious Attorney General's
Award of Merit.
EDUCATION
Florida State University, College of Law- Tallahassee, Florida, J.D.
with Honors, 1998
Smith College - Northampton, MA, B.A. English Literature, Phi Beta Kappa,
Cum Laude, 1995
Broward Community College - Fort Lauderdale, FL, A.A. Liberal Arts,
with Honors, 1987-1992
APPEARANCES, LECTURES & PUBLICATIONS
TELEVISION: Oprah Winfrey Show, (March 2009)
TELEVISION: The Florida Channel, Florida Crossroads, "The Internet:
The Danger Within" (2008)
TELEVISION: Good Morning America, Foley Coverage, Reporter Brian Ross, (2006)
LECTURE: National Association of Attorneys General, Presidential Initiatives:
Cyber Crime (Dec 2010)
LECTURE: National District Attorney Assoc., Protecting Victims of Child
Pornography (August 2009)
LECTURE: Safe Surf: Teaching Cyber Safety in Florida Schools (2008 - 2009)
LECTURE: Florida State Prosecution: Internet Crimes Against Children (2007 - 2010)
LECTURE: Assisting Victims of Cyber Crime (2007 - 2010)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
3/2011 - 6/2013
SPECIAL PROJECTS COUNSEL, Florida State College at Jacksonville
Practice Areas: sunshine laws, public records, government and higher education compliance,
Title IX, Clery Act, Title IV, employment law, copyright, student rights,
dual enrollment, articulation agreements, policy development, Higher Education
Act, accreditation, and contracts, including: rental, sale, procurement,
indemnification, waivers, employment, garnishment, partnerships, liability, etc.
8/2005 - 1/2011
DIRECTOR, Child Predator Cybercrime Unit, Florida Attorney General
Practice Areas: executive leadership, legislative author, criminal prosecution.
4/2004 - 8/ 2005
ASSISTANT STATEWIDE PROSECUTOR, Florida Statewide Prosecutor
Practice Areas: complex multi-circuit, multi-defendant cases: white collar crime, RICO,
narcotics trafficking, computer and technology crimes, child pornography,
Medicaid fraud, insurance fraud, mortgage fraud, tax fraud, identity theft,
money laundering, and conspiracy (1 Jury Trial & 30+ motions/depositions/sentencing hearings)
9/1998 - 4/ 2004
ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY, 4th Judicial Circuit, Jacksonville, Florida
Practice Areas: misdemeanor, juvenile, and felony state crimes; specialization: child
abuse, domestic violence, sex crimes, and civil commitment of sexually
violent predators.
1/1998 - 5/1998
CERTIFIED ATTORNEY INTERN, Children's Advocacy Center, FSU
Practice Areas: Dissolution of Marriage, Domestic Violence Injunctions, Child Advocacy
8/1997 - 12/1997
JUDICIAL INTERN, Florida Supreme Court,Justice Kogan, FSU
Practice Areas: assorted appellate matters, conflicts, certified questions and mandamus
8/1996 - 8/1997
LAW CLERK, Spriggs and Johnson, LLP West
Practice Areas: Plaintiff civil rights: state, federal, employment, and education
7/1994 - 9/1994
PRELAW INTERN, Legal Aid of Miami, Self-Help Divorce Group Project
Practice Area: Dissolution of Marriage
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
Guardian ad Litem, Tallahassee Florida, foster care 1996 -1997
Assistant State Attorney, Middle School Liaison 1998 -1999
Mentor, Take Stock in Children, 1999 - 2000
College Summit Writing Coach, summer program, 2000 - current
Jacksonville Smith College Club, President, 2002 - current