At a time when hateful rhetoric and violent extremism are on the rise, most recently exemplified by a shocking antisemitic attack in Boulder, Florida’s legal community is responding not with silence, but with conviction, compassion, and action.
Prominent attorneys and law firm leaders across the region are making it clear: the legal profession has a moral and civic duty to condemn hate, promote diversity, and strengthen community ties. That message was underscored by a group of high-profile South Florida attorneys who spoke out forcefully in the Daily Business Review, calling for unity and denouncing all forms of antisemitism.
Brian Bilzin, a founding partner of Bilzin Sumberg, has long advocated for civic engagement as a pillar of legal leadership. His firm’s pro-bono initiatives and investment in local nonprofits reflect a belief that community service is inseparable from professional success.
“Lawyers have influence – and with that comes responsibility,” Bilzin told the Daily Business Review. “When hate surfaces, when inequality persists, we have to respond not just as lawyers, but as citizens.”
Last month, Podhurst Orseck’s Peter Prieto was celebrated for his unwavering commitment to justice and civil rights when he was awarded the Judge Learned Hand Award by the American Jewish Committee. Though not Jewish himself, Prieto used his acceptance speech to deliver a deeply moving message about allyship, moral courage, and collective responsibility. He invoked the story of U.S. Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, who defied Nazi orders to identify Jewish soldiers by standing in solidarity and declaring: “We are all Jews.”
“This moment demands more than words. It demands a return to our core values – justice, equality, and respect for all communities,” said Prieto, a University of Miami Law alumnus and former federal prosecutor.
Across South Florida, firm leaders are putting values into practice through programming, scholarships, leadership roles, and public service aimed at building a more inclusive and resilient legal ecosystem.
Leading by Example
Earlier this year, Stuart Weissman, a partner at Ratzan, Weissman, & Boldt, was elected President of the Miami-Dade Bar Association. In his inaugural remarks, Weissman emphasized the Bar’s renewed focus on diversity as well as community outreach, noting, “We must be a bar that reflects the people we serve – diverse, dynamic, and deeply connected to the needs of our community.”
His vision includes mentoring programs for young attorneys, partnerships with public schools, and focused legal education initiatives. “Leadership in law isn’t just about what happens in the courtroom,” Weissman said. “It’s about the example we set.”
Investing in the Future
Meanwhile, Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine once again launched the H.T. Smith Legal Studies Scholarship, honoring the pioneering civil rights attorney and founding director of FIU Law’s Trial Advocacy Program. The annual scholarship is aimed at supporting students from historically marginalized communities who are pursuing careers in the law.
“The legal field must be accessible to all, and we believe in lifting up the next generation of diverse advocates,” said Alan Kluger, founding partner of the firm. “This scholarship is a small but meaningful step toward that goal.”
The firm’s ongoing commitment to community reflects a broader understanding that equal representation is a cornerstone of ethical legal practice.
“Miami has emerged as a global business hub, but for our community and the legal profession to make a measurable improvement in diversity and inclusion across the board, law firms of all sizes will need to undertake active and meaningful participation in similar types of programs such as this,” said H.T. Smith.
A Call to Action
In South Florida’s vibrant, multicultural legal community, leaders like Prieto, Bilzin, Weissman, and the attorneys at Kluger Kaplan are not just talking about change – they’re modeling it. In courtrooms, classrooms, and boardrooms, they’re championing a profession that confronts injustice, uplifts marginalized voices and prioritizes the well-being of the communities it serves.
Their collective message is clear: Combatting hate and building equity isn’t a side project – it’s the essence of legal leadership.
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