Attorney at Law Magazine spoke with Matthew Posgay (a shareholder of Coker Law) who is board-certified in civil trial law by the Florida Bar as well as civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocates. This was the latest Board Certified Lawyer of the month spotlight. He has tried more than 75 civil cases and convicted over 65.
AALM What attracted you to this company?
MP I’ve been in the practice for over 27 years. I was the Northeast Florida manager for an insurance defense company and had a successful practice. I was looking for more in my career. Although I enjoyed trying and litigating cases, I wasn’t able to help people which was my true calling as a lawyer. Coker Law was the right choice for me more than 14 years ago. They are committed to justice and to the Jacksonville community.
AALM What is your practice today that you imagined in law school?
MP I didn’t realize how technology would affect the legal profession when I was in law school. Technology is not limited to remote hearings or attending depositions. It affects every case. Electronic discovery, vehicle data recorder downloadings, online research tools, and case management software are just some of the many things that technology has made possible.
In law school, I didn’t realize how crucial marketing was. My father was a sole practitioner in probate and real estate. The majority of his work was from referrals from other lawyers and members of the community, who knew him to be an excellent lawyer. In law school, I believed that being an outstanding lawyer would suffice to grow your practice. It is important to be an excellent lawyer in order to grow your practice. It is important to be able to balance letting people know your special skills and knowledge, while not bragging.
AALM Why did you decide to apply for board certification?
MP Years ago, a mentor and friend of mine told me to apply for board certification because it was the only way people could tell that you are an excellent civil trial lawyer. It is not common for lawyers to go through the application process to be board certified and take the exam. In some ways, it is more difficult to become board certified than passing the bar exam.
AALM Tell us all about your mentors, and the lessons they have taught you.
MP I was fortunate to have many great mentors throughout my career. All of them have taught me a lot, but Howard Coker and Mickey Smith are the ones that I remember most.
Mickey, a Palm Beach Gardens trial lawyer, was my supervising lawyer when I was just starting out as a lawyer. After passing the bar exam, he gave me the chance to try cases within a few months. He taught me that honesty and hard work are essential to succeed in law school.
Howard Coker has been a mentor and partner to me. Howard Coker has accomplished more as a lawyer than anyone of us can possibly achieve. Yet, he continues to come to work each day with a burning passion for obtaining justice for his clients. Every day, his energy and drive inspire me.
AALM Do you volunteer with any legal or nonprofit organizations? Please tell us about any that you are passionate about.
MP Since its inception, I have been involved in the Raines High School Future Lawyers and Leaders Program. With the help of D. W. Perkins Bar Association members, it is an incredible program that Judge Brian Davis introduced to Raines High School. Raines High School has many amazing students who are interested learning more about a career in law. The mock trial, which is held in spring, provides mentoring and coaching.
I’m also a member Leadership Jacksonville Class 2023, which is without a doubt the best class! It’s been wonderful to meet so many incredible people from all walks of life, with a variety of backgrounds and careers, who are committed to making Jacksonville a better city. It is a place I love more and more as I learn more about it.
Additionally, I am a member on the board of directors as well as the executive committee of the Florida Justice Association. It is the only state-wide organization that fights every day for civil jury trials.
AALM Do you have any regrets about your career?
MP Family has been and will always be a priority for me. However, in my first half of my career I was so driven to improve my financial and professional skills that I wasn’t always “present” with my family even though I was there physically. Although I am thankful for my wonderful relationships with my spouse and children, I wish I could go back in time to make more of an effort to be present when my children were younger. This is not a regret. It’s a maturer understanding of how important it is to have good relationships with those we love. This realization was made possible by my parents’ early years, so we all have the benefit of it.
AALM Tell us about your life outside of work. Your colleagues might be surprised at what you have to say.
MP Don’t depend on someone else to set the bar. Let me know if you are planning a barbecue, tailgate, or other event that requires alcohol. I’ll be there. It is not worth it to consume mediocre alcohol, beer, or wine.
The post Matthew Posgay – A Real Calling was first published on Attorney at Law Magazine.