Judy-Ann Smith, Esquire, Managing Attorney, BSN, MS, JD
My passion as an attorney is being able to help people. When I help people resolve their legal issues that is the most rewarding aspect of the work I do. I also have an empathetic and compassionate side and I am willing to listen to my clients’ issues, to get a deeper understanding of what they would like to achieve and accomplish. Most importantly, I am an assertive advocate for all my clients and I will fight for what is fair and just according to the laws of the land.
- Member Florida Bar Association
- Member of Florida Bar Family Law Section
- Member Florida Bar Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
- Member Florida Bar Elder Law Section
Speaking Engagements/Presentations
CLE – August 29, 2017 – National Business Institute (NBI) – Course on Estate Planning and Administration: The Complete Guide, Jacksonville, Florida. Topics – Key laws and client intake/goal setting and transfers during life and inter-vivos trusts.
CLE – March 19, 2018 – National Business Institute (NBI) – Course on Probate: The Probate Process from start to finish., Gainesville Florida. Topics – Initial Filing in Probate Court and Estate Timeline and Law of Intestate Succession.
CLE – October 04, 2018-October 05, 2018 – National Business Institute (NBI) – Course on Probate: 30 Steps to Perfect Probate. Orlando, Florida. Topics – Probate Process Overview and First Steps and Executor Strategies.
CLE – February 27, 2019 – ProLawCLE – Course on Estate Planning: Draft Estate Planning Documents with these Practical Techniques.
CLE – August 16, 2019 – National Business Institute (NBI) – Course on Probate: The Probate Process from start to finish., Jacksonville Florida. Topics – Filing and Estate in Probate Court and Understanding the Role of the Personal Representative in Probate.
Shyla Bostick, Esquire
Shyla Bostick is the newest member of the Forefront Law legal team and a hardworking litigator. She graduated from Howard University in 2004 with honors and a B.S in Sociology. She spent several years as a teacher in Illinois public schools before attending Florida Coastal School of Law in 2010. Her experience in the public school system encouraged her to participate in the Guardian Ad Litem Program for Duval County where she represented underserved children and fought for the stability and life they deserved. She developed a passion for helping children and their parents endure during difficult life challenges. She graduated from Florida Coastal with honors in 2012. She has been practicing criminal, family, and civil litigation for five years as a solo-practitioner prior to joining Forefront Law.
Leslie Gonzalez, Paralegal
Leslie Gonzalez has served as the Legal Assistant for Forefront Law since April 2017. She is a primary point of communications for clients, and assists the legal staff with researching information for the case, drafting letters and documents, and maintaining communications with opposing counsel, judges, and court personnel. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of North Florida and is fluent in Spanish.