We Use Our Experience and Resources to Help You With Your Case

Ruth Ann Hepler grew up in Panama City, Florida. She graduated from the University of Missouri in 1988 with a degree in journalism. She got her law degree from the University of Florida in 1991 and joined the Jacksonville Public Defender's Office in 1992. She opened her own private practice in 1999 and returned to the Public Defender's Office to work part-time in 2003. In 2008, she joined Mike full-time in his practice. She and her husband Carey have three daughters, Janie, Patti and Sally. She is a member of the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, NOSSCR, and a memeber of the Northeast Florida Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She is also active in the San Marco Rotary Club and Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association.

Internship with the public defender's office changed my life [PDF]   
As a law school student, Ruth Ann Hepler had her sites set on becoming a criminal prosecutor but an internship with the public defender's office changed her plans. Read this article by clicking on the title link above.

Successful pro bono guardianship case opens new area of law to attorney

Article by Kathy Para

With years as an assistant public defender and a short stint as a sole practitioner under her belt, Ruth Ann Hepler understands the needs of those who cannot afford to hire counsel. That is why she jumped at the chance to take advantage of the JALA's free CLE "lunch and learn" seminars. The only catch: handle one pro bono case for each class taken.

"It seemed like a great deal to me," Hepler said. "I got to finish my hours, learn a new area of law, and participate in the pro bono program all at the same time!"

She learned the ropes of guardianship law from attorney, and JALA Board member, Rebeccah Beller. That gave her enough of a jump-start to be able to help a JALA client obtain a guardian advocateship for her 19-year-old autistic son. Now the client can make the health care and legal decisions for her son that he was not capable of handling on his own.

"The family was just so delightful and they were so appreciative," Hepler said. "They couldn't afford to hire an attorney on their own, but it didn't take much of my time at all, and I learned a lot in the process."

Hepler, a partner with Sullivan & Hepler, enjoyed the experience so much that she hopes to expand her social security disability and criminal defense practice to include guardianship law as well. And she is already working on another pro bono guardianship case for JALA.

"I feel good about using my legal skills to give back to the community, and I love meeting and working with the clients," she said."

Originally printed in the Financial News & Daily Record