Experience

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  Law Offices of K. Dean Kantaras, P.A.

  • Palm Harbor, FL

  • Attorney

    • Oct 2015 - Present
    • Palm Harbor, FL

    Family law.

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  Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc

  • Clearwater, FL

  • Volunteer Attorney

    • Oct 2014 - Jan 2015
    • Clearwater, FL

    Representing clients with family law cases, including divorces and requests for injunctions for protection (restraining orders). Performs legal research and conducts client interviews to determine whether individuals qualify for assistance and how our office can best help them.

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  Wheels of Success

  • Chief Operating Officer

    • Mar 2013 - Apr 2014

    Overall leadership and responsibility for day to day operations of the organization; works inconjunction with the President/CEO on strategic business and financial planning and analysis,develops and implements short and long term strategies, maintains optimal staff and volunteerproductivity. Works collaboratively with key staff on new business development andstrengthening relationships within the community. Implements and fulfills Human Resourcesresponsibilities. Grant writing and management responsibilities.

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  St. Petersburg College

  • Clearwater

  • Adjunct Professor

    • May 2012 - May 2013
    • Clearwater

    Instructed students on identifying legal issues, reading complex case law, statutes and legislation and applying these concepts to realistic situations. Taught students to identify relevant key words and concepts to research legal issues and how to use these terms to search subscription databases. Educated students to successfully conduct free internet research and how to evaluate source credibility. Taught students to write persuasively and informatively. Taught students how to use and understand Word, Excel, PowerPoint, along with other word processing, database, document preparation, graphic presentation, billing and spreadsheet software.

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  Sixth Judicial Circuit

  • Public Defender's Office

    • Aug 2007 - Aug 2012

    Criminal Defense Trial Attorney. Daily courtroom appearances and attorney of record in over thirty jury and bench trials. Extensive legal research and motion practice, successfully arguing motions in both county and circuit court. Skillful utilization of depositions and expert witnesses. Maintained a positive working relationship with prosecutors while remaining a powerful advocate for my clients.Represented indigent adults and juveniles charged with felonies and misdemeanors that couldresult in incarceration. Provided effective representation to clients who are frequently illiterate,mentally ill, uneducated and uncooperative while maintaining an extremely large case load.Investigated alleged crimes by meeting with witnesses, police officers and by examining crimescenes. Represented defendants through allcourtroom proceedings, including 30 jury and non jury trials. Acted as a negotiator between the defendant and State Attorney's office to secure acquittals or plea agreements.

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  McConnaughhay Duffy Coonrod Pope & Weaver

  • Associate Attorney

    • Jun 2006 - Aug 2007

    Workers’ Compensation and Insurance Defense. Coordinated discovery and engaged in settlement negotiations informally and at private and State mediations Argued motions before the JCC and deposed claimants, physicians, insurance adjusters and other witnesses. Composed legal memoranda for use within the firm and at trial. Assisted in firm marketing endeavors, including speaking at seminars and conferences.

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  United States Attorney's Office

  • Orlando, Florida Area

  • Law Clerk

    • Jan 2005 - Jul 2005
    • Orlando, Florida Area

    Performed detailed analysis of complex issues of state and federal law within both the Civil andCriminal divisions. Drafted numerous legal memoranda, pleadings and motions.

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  AmeriCorps VISTA

  • Greater Seattle Area

  • Sound Youth/Notre Dame

    • Aug 2001 - Aug 2002
    • Greater Seattle Area

    Initiated and managed after school programs for under-privileged and at-risk students.Supervised, recruited and trained volunteers. Demonstrated advanced writing ability incomposing grants, training materials and donation requests. Served on Board of Directors forPartners for Successful Schools, a multimillion dollar non-profit organization.