Civil Court Mediator & Guardian ad Litem
After more than three decades of practice as a civil trial lawyer, Laurie Zimmerman has transitioned her focus in 2025 to serving the legal community as a civil court mediator and guardian ad litem for minor settlements. She brings to these roles the same dedication, integrity, and depth of experience that defined her trial practice.
Laurie has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law since 2001, a distinction held by fewer than 2% of Florida lawyers, reflecting her skill and experience in the courtroom. She has also been a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator since 2006, providing her with nearly two decades of experience helping parties resolve disputes outside of litigation.
Laurie earned both her Juris Doctor (1990) and Bachelor of Science in Political Science (1986) from Florida State University. Over the course of her career, she has represented clients from every perspective of civil litigation: as in-house insurance defense counsel, retained defense counsel, private defense counsel, and plaintiffs’ counsel. This extensive trial experience allows her to understand the strategies, pressures, and practical concerns that shape each side of a case—insight that now strengthens her effectiveness as a neutral mediator.
Beyond her trial practice, Laurie has served her community in numerous capacities, including as a Hearing Officer for the Sarasota and Manatee Housing Authorities and the Sarasota School Board. She has also held leadership roles in the profession, serving as President of her local chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the American Inns of Court, organizations devoted to promoting professionalism and civility in the practice of law.
By bringing together decades of courtroom advocacy with her long-standing commitment to fair and practical resolution of disputes, Laurie Zimmerman now offers trusted guidance as both a civil mediator and a guardian ad litem in minor settlements.
Credentials
- Board Certified in Civil Trial Law since 2001
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator since 2006
- Juris Doctor, Florida State University College of Law, 1990
- Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Florida State University, 1986
- Past President, American Board of Trial Advocates (local chapter)
- Past President, American Inns of Court (local chapter)
- Hearing Officer, Sarasota and Manatee Housing Authorities
- Hearing Officer, Sarasota School Board
- AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell
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Extensive trial experience as plaintiffs’ counsel, private defense counsel, retained defense counsel, and in-house insurance defense counsel
