Attorneys

Thomas S. Edwards, Jr. is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, the highest specialty recognition given by the Florida Bar for attorneys who handles injury and death cases. He is rated AV by Martindale Hubbell- the highest rating available by this national attorney rating service and is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocate's Forum. Tom is proud of his numerous million and multimillion dollar settlements and verdicts for clients but is more proud of his work in preserving the civil justice system. He was accepted for membership in Florida Trend Magazine's Legal Elite and Florida's Super Lawyers and is the past President of the Florida Justice Association-The State Trial Lawyers.

Tom has held numerous prestigious positions in the Florida Bar and the community. Including:

• President of the Jacksonville Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates-membership restricted organization of trial attorneys
• President of the Jacksonville Bar- elected by all of the attorneys in the Jacksonville Bar Association
• President of the Jacksonville Trial Lawyers
• Served in Every Leadership Position for the State Trial Lawyers Organization
• Master of the Bench Inns of Court- highest standing available 
• Numerous Florida Supreme Court Appointments-including serving on the committee that creates the legal instructions that Judges give to Jurors during trials.

Tom was selected by the Florida Bar and the Florida Supreme Court to serve as a member of the North Florida Grievance Committee. The Grievance Committee is responsible for investigating and prosecuting attorneys who are accused of unethical conduct. Ultimately, he served as chairman of this committee and was responsible for overseeing the prosecution of unethical attorneys. In addition, Tom served for two terms on the committee that was responsible for rendering legal opinions to judges throughout the state regarding whether or not they were engaged in unethical conduct. As part of those duties, he assisted in writing the code of ethics that applies to the way in which judges conduct themselves.

Tom has testified before the legislature about the legal system on multiple occasions. He has published numerous legal book chapters and legal articles and previously won the Florida Bar Award for top legal writing and has lectured other lawyers in seminars all over the country on a wide variety of subjects, including how to handle the trial of cases and how to present cases effectively to maximize their value.

Tom attended Sewanee the University of the South and graduated with a degree in Economics. He then attended Stetson University College of Law, where he was awarded his law degree. A lifelong native of Jacksonville Florida, Tom is consulted by lawyers from around the country and has won verdicts in Florida and in other states. Tom is admitted to all Florida Courts, the United States Middle District Courts, United States 11th Circuit Court and the United States Supreme Court.

Areas of Practice

• Nursing Home Litigation
• Professional Liability
• Product Liability
• Personal Injury
• Insurance Litigation
• Commercial Litigation

Certification/Specialties

• Civil Trial Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1984
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1986
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1993

Education

• Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1983
  J.D.
  Honors: President, Stetson Moot Court Board
  Honors: Member, National Moot Court Team
  
  
• University of the South, 1981
  B.A.
  Major: Economics
  
  

Honors and Awards

• "AV" by Martindale Hubbell
• Million Dollar Advocate's Forum
• Florida Trend Magazine's Legal Elite
• Florida's Super Lawyers
• Florida Bar Award, Top Legal Writing

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Florida Justice Association-State Trial Lawyers
  President
  
  
• American Board of Trial Advocates
  President, Jacksonville Chapter
  
  
• Jacksonville Bar Association
  President
  
  
• Jacksonville Justice Association
  President
  
  
• Bench Inns of Court (Highest Standing Available)
  Master
  
  

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Alpha Delta

Birth Information

• May 31, 1959