Prior to joining M & T, Victoria owned and operated her own law firm as a solo practitioner who practiced family law together with probate law for over fifteen (15) years in St. Lucie County, Florida. However, when she moved to Orlando, she was interested in working with a firm where she could be part of a team such as Meriwether and Tharp, LLC. During her extensive years of practicing family law, she has honed one of her major professional strengths which is uncovering a client’s needs and negotiating settlements while diffusing tense situations that divorcing parties encounter during a difficult time in their lives. Victoria has dealt with many legal issues within the area of family law that have a major impact on the lives of her clients. By being able to recognize these potential issues from the outset, she is able to positively affect the client’s end results. Victoria earned her Juris Doctorate (J.D.), with honors, from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law School, in 2001. Before attending law school, she pursued her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Florida Atlantic University (“FAU”) and University of Central Florida (“UCF”). She graduated magna cum laude from FAU with a M.Ed in early childhood education and a B.A. in communicative disorders from UCF. Prior to becoming an attorney, Victoria was employed by the St. Lucie County School System as a Speech and Language Pathologist and taught various child development/education classes at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Florida. She was a Florida certified teacher for over twenty three (23) years. The educational system definitely opened her eyes to the challenges divorcing families experience when drafting and executing parenting plans for their minor children. During law school, many distinct clinics and internships were offered to the students and Victoria seized the opportunity to avail herself of the ADR, Domestic Violence and Bankruptcy clinics/internships. From the very beginning, she was actively involved in family law issues. In fact, Victoria found her passion for alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) in one of these clinics. She participated in the ADR Clinic where she trained to become a mediator. Following law school, she continued to pursue Alternative Dispute Resolution by becoming a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family, Circuit Civil and County Mediator. However, she didn’t stop there. She gained her certification in foreclosure mediation and quickly studied to become a Qualified Arbitrator. Victoria believes in the mediation process because it leaves the decision making in the client’s hands, not the courts. Moreover, ADR allows the parties the opportunity to tell their story. When the parties make their own decisions, then they tend to feel a greater allegiance/loyalty to adhere to the formalized agreement, thereby avoiding costly and lengthy litigation. It promotes amicable resolutions in a more cost efficient and timely manner. Mediation is a beneficial tool used to encourage effective co-parenting skills. When parties amicably reach an agreement in mediation, it is a clear indicator that they will be able to put the conflict aside and provide the necessary stability and security for their children. Victoria has been actively involved in legal, civic and community organizations throughout the State of Florida. She understands the importance of giving back to the community and offers her services to organizations, such as Florida Rural Legal Services and other surrounding local legal aid societies. She has offered her legal services to Florida Rural Legal Services by providing legal advice on completing initial divorce documents, drafting settlement agreements and creating parenting plans to pro bono clients. Additionally, she was elected to serve in all capacities on the executive board (elected as Secretary/Treasurer, Vice-President, President and Immediate Past President) of the St. Lucie County Bar Association for four (4) years and she served on the governing board of CASTLE for almost five (5) years. CASTLE is an organization that provides education and raises awareness for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Victoria has been an active member of the Florida Bar since 2003. She has participated and been a member of the following professional associations/organizations: the American Inns of Court (2014-2017), FAWL (Florida Association of Women Lawyers)(2000-Present) and Florida Academy of Professional Mediators (2010-Present). Her participation in these legal, civic and community organizations have resulted in several Pro Bono Awards from Nova Southeastern University and Florida Rural Legal Services. She received an Outstanding Service Award from the St. Lucie County Bar Association for her service as President.
