A talented attorney’s journey into the legal world is both unconventional and captivating. Arguments are painted in words, and cases are crafted as intricate works of artwork. Imagine a young graphic designer who was hired by a greeting card company to navigate the colorful worlds of expression and creativity. Paul Eza, once a budding graphic designer, was employed by a prominent greeting card company. He navigated the colorful realms of creativity and expression.
Eza was confined to his graphic design studio where he faced the monotony and routine of “assembly lines” routine. Every stroke of the pen felt like a choreographed dancing than a creative act.
Eza says, “It’s fine.” It wasn’t my dream job but it was okay. In my 20s I worked my way into the lower management, which wasn’t bad. But I was bored. It was the right time in my life to make a shift, so I thought about my options.
He continues, “Education was one of the things that I considered.” I thought that I would like teaching. I have always loved teaching. It was also clear that I couldn’t do much more with a master’s degree in education if I didn’t enjoy teaching. On the other side, I was intrigued by law and the academic aspect of it. I knew that a law degree would give me some flexibility. “So, that’s why I went to law school.”
Eza’s decision to study at Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law was further reinforced. He continued to excel with his stellar grades and achievements, and was inducted into Moot Court Honor Society. He also became a mock-trial coach for the LEAP Program. After graduation, he had to find a job that matched his interests and skills.
Eza, originally from Philadelphia, found that there were few jobs available. In Miami, he found a perfect job at the State’s Attorney Office. Miami was a good move for him, not only did he get to enjoy the sun-filled winters and the many outdoor activities that Miami offers but he also met his future wife.
He says, “Making the move was better than I ever could have imagined.” “I met my future wife soon after moving to the area. She had just started her second year in medical school, and I believe that part of why it worked for us is that she wanted to make sure that anyone who saw her understood how important school was. I can understand how you feel, having just finished three years of law. “My days were also pretty busy, as I had just started my new job at the State Attorney’s Office.”
His career and love blossomed and they were married in 2012, a week after Constance Katsafanas, his future wife, graduated from medical school. Constance Katsafanas was moving to Jacksonville for her residency and Eza had joined an insurance firm which transferred him to their Jacksonville office.
Eza spent the next 11-years as a trial lawyer for several firms. He gained extensive experience, developed subject matter expertise, and built professional relationships with attorneys from both sides. He had a second epiphany when he realized that trials and litigation were not his passion. He says that over the years he has enjoyed the most the mediation aspect of his work and that he is now adept at creating solutions that serve not only his clients, but also the opposing party’s needs.
It was time for another bold move.
Eza Mediation
Eza’s desire to help people and his sense of justice led him into the legal field. Eza’s deep commitment to finding peaceful solutions for others led him to make what was perhaps the most significant decision of his career. He now offers litigants in Jacksonville, Florida, and across Florida an effective and constructive way to settle disputes without having to go to court or incurring costs.
Eza’s vision of a harmonious legal system led him to choose mediation as his career. Eza’s extensive experience in conflict resolution and negotiation strategies, combined with his years of litigating highly-profiled cases, led him to open his own mediation company.
Aptly named Eza Mediation LLC, the firm specializes in a wide range of mediation areas including personal injury, slip and falls, first party property, uninsured/underinsured motorist, construction defect, breach of contract, defamation, and more. Eza’s reputation as a person of integrity and fairness helped him build his clientele by referring attorneys that he met during his career.
He says, “I have been lucky to make some great contacts in my career. First in Miami, and then in Jacksonville. I’ve developed strong relationships with lawyers on both sides.” I’ve been surprised by how many attorneys, after learning of my new venture, trusted my work and sent me clients.
Breaking in
Many of the mediation firms in Jacksonville have been around for years. It’s always difficult to break into a new industry, but Eza was able to achieve immediate success simply by presenting his skills and himself in an open way.
He says, “I present myself as authentically as possible.” “I believe that’s very important in any area of law, and especially in mediation, because I may not know the attorneys, nor the adjusters, or the plaintiff. It may be the only time I ever meet them. I need to build trust quickly so they feel comfortable speaking to me. While I felt I was a good trial lawyer, you would never see me on the front cover of Trial Attorney Magazine. I wasn’t a boisterous, flamboyant litigator. I was more of a showman. It’s not my style. “I would describe myself as low key and focused on getting the facts straight and finding a solution.”
Eza is able to slip into a role which feels like it was made just for him. His vision is to create a place where people and organizations can meet, exchange ideas, and find solutions that are satisfactory for all.
He says, “I like to try and help people over the hump.” “Whatever the one or two issues that were holding up settlement. It is very satisfying to be able to assist both parties in their own time and way to reach a solution.
Family Life
Eza, who is well-known for his dedication to clients and his new business, still has time to spend with his family. His wife, who is now the program director of the neurology residency at University of Florida-Jacksonville, faces the same challenges trying to balance career and family, but it’s a task they both are becoming experts at now that they have their 3-year-old son, Vasilis, to consider. The family enjoys the many outdoor activities and is active in their community. The family travels whenever possible, including to comic conventions around the country to support Constance’s part-time job as a manager of comic writers and artists.
Eza says, “Jacksonville is very kind to us.” We love our community, and we have many friends that have made this feel like home.
The future is bright for the artist-turned-litigator-turned mediator, who says that he has finally found his place to plant roots and blossom.
The post Paul Eza – From Legal Expertise To Mediation Mastery first appeared on Attorney at Law Magazine.