For Maria D. Garcia, becoming a lawyer wasn’t simply a career choice; it was something of a calling.
Growing up in Miami, Maria often listened as her father, Jose Antonio Garcia, spoke about his native Cuba, where he spent 12 years as a political prisoner.
“He and I spoke a lot about the rule of law and how it was not respected in Cuba,” Maria recalled. “I would listen to the radio with him, watch the news with him, and I thought that being a lawyer was a way to preserve the law, to make sure our society didn’t lose its way. … We’re the keepers of the law.”
Jose eventually immigrated to the United States, and Maria’s mother, also named Maria, arrived during the Mariel boatlift in 1980. Against great odds, they built a life together, started a business, and had three children, all of whom would go on to graduate from the Florida International University College of Law.
“My father and my mother, both of them always told us that many things can be taken away from a human being, but your education and what you have in your mind can never be taken from you,” Maria said. “And I think that inspired us to not just go to college but to earn a higher-level degree.”
Maria was the first to graduate from FIU Law, earning her degree in 2008. Her younger brother, Jose H. Garcia, started FIU Law that same year and graduated in 2011. Their younger sister, Esther Garcia-Rosenberg, completed the arc in 2014. It was an accomplishment that made their parents, especially their father, immensely proud.
“He always made sure to tell people, ‘All three of my kids are FIU Law grads!’” Maria said. “My father always said we were their three treasures. All the hard work and everything they sacrificed to come to this country paid off from their perspective.”
Today, the Garcia siblings have charted different paths in the legal profession, a testament to the versatility of an FIU Law education.
“FIU Law really gave me the opportunity to stretch myself and to challenge myself with the material, with professors who make you think outside the box,” Maria said. “I learned that it’s OK to be uncomfortable. If anything, that’s where you grow.”
Now an equity partner at Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, Maria has practiced healthcare law and commercial litigation for 17 years and leads the practice at her law firm.
“It’s just a really interesting area that’s always changing, always prevalent,” she said. “Healthcare is not going anywhere, and it affects everyone in the U.S. It’s about a third of our federal budget and a significant part of private industry in our country.”
Jose is a shareholder and attorney with Cuevas Garcia & Torres, where he leads the firm’s real estate practice and advises clients on complex real estate, construction, and development matters.
“I love the challenge of considering and resolving complex problems for my clients,” he said. “I love stepping back and analyzing.”
Esther has worked for more than a decade in family law, focusing on adoptions and advocating for children and families involved with the juvenile dependency system. She recently put her career on pause to focus on her two young children.
“I’m privileged to serve children and families impacted by the local foster care system,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like work. … I love building relationships with others, where those I am serving feel that they can trust and count on me for skilled guidance, dedicated advocacy, anything that they may need, even if just someone to listen and care.”
Today, the three remain bound by their genuine love for the law and the university that made their careers possible.
“I started at FIU in 2008, and it was super young at the time, but it already had a good reputation,” Jose said.
He praised FIU’s commitment to using practicing attorneys as instructors for certain courses.
“They could tell you what it was actually like,” Jose said. “We had some very good clinics.”
He added that FIU Law can be a tremendous advantage for students who already know they want to practice in South Florida because the school serves as a natural bridge to the local law community.
Maria agreed, noting that one of the most valuable parts of the FIU Law experience comes after graduation.
“I think FIU Law alumni — we try to open doors for each other,” she said. “If you want to stay in South Florida, it really is an amazing and growing network.”
For Esther, serving on the FIU Board of Advocates Negotiation Team and working alongside former Professor David D. Walter cemented her dedication to helping families through life’s most difficult moments.
“I probably gained my most memorable experiences and knowledge from being on the team,” she said. “I still use the general approach to negotiation and several of the negotiation strategies that I learned.”
FIU Law proved to be an excellent fit for her professional goals.
“I’m grateful and nostalgic for my time at FIU College of Law,” she said. “I enjoyed the curriculum, experiences and the wonderful people I met.”
The Garcia siblings credit FIU Law with giving them the opportunity to stay close to their family and community, preparing them for professional success, and offering a quality education for a reasonable cost.
Maria said, “I always knew FIU Law was going to shine. You could just tell from the staff, the professors, the whole team. When I applied, I knew that was the place for me!”