ABOUT ME

Elaine L. Thompson has been practicing law since 1989.  She began her legal career working as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Florida Attorney General's Office in Tampa.  Over the next ten years, Ms. Thompson continued to develop her legal skills and knowledge while working in the Employment Discrimination Section and the Office of Civil Rights where she represented the State, State agencies, and State employees in appellate, trial, and federal habeas corpus proceedings. 

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After honing her craft with the Florida Attorney General's Office, attorney Thompson worked in private practice representing parties in workers compensation matters, criminal appeals, civil appeals, civil litigation, and family appeals. Ms. Thompson worked briefly at the Fulton County District Attorney's Office. Upon her return to Florida, she worked at a private law firm which handled cases involving medical malpractice, personal injury, and limited appeals.  From there she joined the Office of the Public Defender in Tampa where she served as a supervisor of the Appellate Division, represented clients in Baker Act proceedings, and handled post-conviction matters. 

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After practicing law for more than twenty-five years, Ms. Thompson decided to focus her practice on the most rewarding work she performs as a lawyer - appellate cases.  Having attended law school because of her interest in constitutional law, she continues to pursue work related to constitutional claims, civil liberties, disability rights, education rights, and individual property rights.  In addition to appeals, Ms. Thompson provides litigation support to trial lawyers, she is an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association Consumer Panel and a Florida Family Law Certified Mediator.

IN THE COMMUNITY

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Ms. Thompson was appointed to serve as a member of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners in August 1999.  As a bar examiner, she was responsible for making recommendations for admission to the bar, evaluating applicants' character and fitness to practice law, and assessing applicants' need for any accommodations.  Ms. Thompson, a member of the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association, also served as president of the F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association, Chair of the Florida Bar's Student Education and Admissions to the Bar Committee, Chair of the Florida Bar's Continuing Legal Education Committee, and as a member of The Florida Bar's Legal Education Assistance Program Committee.  

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In addition to her law related work, she is also active in her community.  She organized a college readiness mentoring group to help high school students in Hillsborough County prepare for admission to college.  Some of those students attended top colleges such as University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, Columbia University, Xavier University of New Orleans, and Barnard College of Columbia University.