Title: Attorney
Company: Hayes, Schloss & Alcocer PA
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida, United States
Mary Spagnola-Hills, Esq., attorney at Hayes, Schloss & Alcocer PA, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in legal services.
With over three decades of experience, Ms. Spagnola-Hills has established a successful career in legal services, specializing in labor and employment law. Since 2024, she has served as an attorney with Hayes, Schloss & Alcocer PA, managing cases from start to finish under workers’ compensation laws. Her prior experience includes serving as an attorney with Pallo, Marks, Hernandez, Gechijian & DeMay PA in 2024 and with Vaughan Baio & Partners from 2018 to 2024. She laid a strong educational foundation, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Florida in 1987 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1991. Additionally, she became certified in Florida workers’ compensation law in 1999, an accomplishment she considers one of her most significant professional achievements.
Ms. Spagnola-Hills is also a member of several organizations, including serving on the workers’ compensation committee and the workers’ compensation board certification testing committee for The Florida Bar, where she has contributed since 2021. Her involvement includes helping to set rigorous standards for board certification, a process that demands expertise, extensive litigation experience, and passing a challenging examination. Additionally, she is a member of the Florida State Bar Association, the workers’ compensation committee in West Palm Beach, and volunteers with her local church. She takes pride in maintaining her board certification and contributing to the legal field by helping shape the certification process. In light of her impressive undertakings in the field, she was named a Top Attorney in North America, and attributes her success to unwavering dedication, perseverance, and a deep passion for the legal profession.
Looking to the future, Ms. Spagnola-Hills plans to continue trying cases. She values stability in her career and has only changed firms when necessary, such as during a corporate acquisition of her previous firm. Content in her current role, she does not aspire to become a partner but is deeply committed to contributing to her firm by leveraging her experience to support colleagues. Additionally, she takes pride in mentoring and supporting newer attorneys. In advising aspiring professionals, she emphasizes the importance of mastering the statutes relevant to one’s area of law, including prior versions that may still apply. She also notes that you should stay informed on case law that could influence their work, maintain professionalism with peers and opposing counsel, and understand the judges involved in their cases to refine legal strategies. She also highlights the importance of maintaining a professional tone in written communications, cautioning against casual or careless emails, and encourages a holistic approach to understanding legal issues rather than focusing on isolated problems.
Ms. Spagnola-Hills also believes in fostering comprehension rather than simply providing answers. She compares this style of mentorship to helping children with homework, aiming to build understanding through guidance. To enhance learning, she takes mentees to depositions and trials, providing real-world exposure to contextualize their work. By offering these experiences, she aims to prepare the next generation of lawyers to navigate the complexities of the legal profession with knowledge, professionalism, and confidence.
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