Over the past several months, we have had the honor of hiring several new professional staff. Learn about them here.
Molly J. Paris
Molly J. Paris joined Disability Rights Florida as a staff attorney earlier this year. Ms. Paris graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2001. She is a member of both the Illinois and Florida Bars. She is also admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois and the Southern District of Florida. She worked for several years at Equip for Equality, the protection and advocacy organization for Illinois. Her disability rights experience includes employment discrimination, community integration, and special education. She has extensive experience with abuse and neglect investigations, systems change advocacy, and litigation. From her practice in Florida, she also has significant commercial litigation experience. She is a member of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Steven C. Estes
Steven C. Estes rejoined our staff as a Senior Investigator. Mr. Estes is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and has 20 years of advocacy experience. His professional focus has been on supporting and advocating for people with mental illnesses. His experience includes ten years working for protection and advocacy organizations in Florida and Illinois.
Z. Felicia Jordan
Z. Felicia Jordan joined our agency as a staff attorney. Ms. Jordan earned her law degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2001. She is a member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District, U.S. District Court for the Northern District and the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. She has served on the Florida Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Division for two consecutive terms as well as various boards and committees of the Florida Bar and local bar associations. Her public interest and disability law experience includes working for Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc. and representing individuals with disabilities before the Social Security Administration while at Lavan and Neidenberg, P.A.
Harold Virgil Bennett, III
Harold Virgil Bennett also joined Disability Rights Florida as a staff attorney. Mr. Bennett graduated with honors in 2002 from Florida State University College of Law after completing his bachelors in international affairs at Morehouse College. He is a member of the Florida Bar. Mr. Bennett has served on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Central Florida and as president of the Virgil Hawkins Bar Association, Inc. He has experience in criminal prosecution and defense representation including investigating and prosecuting multi-circuit organized crime, financial fraud, racketeering, and drug trafficking. The Florida Bar recently named Mr. Bennett to its Leadership Academy as a fellow of the Academy’s inaugural class.
Nately Alvarez
Nately Alvarez joined Disability Rights Florida this year as an Advocacy Specialist. Ms. Alvarez recently earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida State University. She speaks fluent Spanish, has extensive experience in customer service, and an interest in health and legal fields.