Inside this issue:

  • From State Prosecutor to Criminal Defense Attorney: How an “In Your Shoes” Moment Made Me Switch Sides
  • A Page From My Playbook: Tackling Life and Law Through Positive Change
  • You can't do WHAT!? Insane Florida laws you are definitely breaking and don't even know it.
  • Halloween Cocktail Recipe: Rum For Your Life Martini

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Cover Story by Adam Rossen:

From State Prosecutor to Criminal Defense Attorney: How an “In Your Shoes” Moment Made Me Switch Sides

I’ve always wanted to help people. It’s why I became a lawyer.

It’s also the reason I joined the state prosecutor’s office in Broward County right after graduation. We’ve all seen Law & Order. We all know the prosecutors are the good guys who help save lives. Wrong.

My own eye-opening experience with the cops showed me I was on the wrong side. After work one day, a bunch of us assistant state prosecutors went out in Ft. Lauderdale Beach to celebrate a friend’s engagement. My friends had been drinking, but no one was wasted. I was sober. It was 11pm when one of my friends fell asleep on a chair in the lounge we were in. The rest of us were on the dance floor. Suddenly 3 police officers walked into the bar and started dragging my friend outside. They didn’t ask any questions. They just grabbed him.

We intervened and got into a huge argument with the cops. We were dressed nicely. The bar was empty. No one was throwing up or acting rowdy. But the cops didn’t care. They didn’t even try to talk to us. They were rough and aggressive. So we showed them our state prosecutor IDs thinking then they’d show us some respect. But they didn’t care about that either.

As prosecutors we’re taught to always defend the police. But to me their behavior that night was indefensible. The next day at work I got called into the office. My boss was upset – not about how we were treated, but that the press might get wind of it. That was the last straw. I knew I had to go. 

I refused to dedicate my life to serving a political agenda. So at 26 years old, I left my job and started my own firm. In the beginning it was difficult. As a former prosecutor I had no client base. But "luckily" a speeding ticket landed me in The Comedy Fix Traffic School where I ended up giving free lectures on Florida DUI laws.

People started asking me for help, and I developed an amazing client base. Since leaving the prosecutor’s office in 2008 I’ve never looked back.

I know I’ve helped a lot more people as a defense lawyer in South Florida than I ever would have as a prsecutor. Over the past 9 years the firm has seen tremendous growth, helping thousands of people get their lives back on track. We’ve expanded to two office locations and have been recognized as one of the top criminal defense firms in the state.

Now we’re taking it even further. This newsletter marks a new milestone for the Rossen Law Firm. We’re dedicated to staying connected and keeping you informed with as much free information as possible. We hope you enjoy our premiere issue. See you again next month!