When two folks have practiced regulation for a mixed 101 years, it might be time for a change.
A profession transition, at the least.
Elliot Zisser, 75, marked his fiftieth 12 months of apply in 2021; his spouse, Carolyn, 75, handed the milestone this 12 months.
Married 51 years, the Zissers practiced with separate companies and staffs.
His workplace Downtown was established in 1971. His workplace close to their dwelling in Neptune Seaside opened in 1975.
“We made the choice to not mix our enterprise and our private life. We each apply household regulation, so we had been rivals,” Carolyn Zisser mentioned.
They consolidated the 2 practices a couple of 12 months in the past as Zisser Household Legislation. It was step one of their succession plan.
The regulation agency vacated its house at 121 W. Forsyth St. Downtown and is opening a brand new workplace at 10175 Fortune Parkway in South Jacksonville.
The following a part of the plan is for the founding Zissers to show over the each day operations to managing companions Jonathan Zisser, their son, and Sara Frazier, Carolyn’s protege since 2017.
Rather a lot has modified previously 5 many years in how regulation is practiced.
“After we began, we had typewriters,” Elliot Zisser mentioned.
They watched as workplace know-how superior with fax machines after which private computer systems, the web, e-mail and smartphones.
The coronavirus pandemic introduced its personal technological advances, equivalent to distant hearings changing into the popular format for a lot of procedural points.
“The primary time I noticed a pc on a lawyer’s desk, I believed, ‘What may they presumably use that for?’ Now, I plug in my laptop computer and have three screens. There aren’t any extra packing containers of information. I can take my workplace wherever I am going,” Elliot Zisser mentioned.
Having simpler entry to information made the workplace extra environment friendly, but in addition modified the workflow, Carolyn Zisser mentioned.
“Generally, it is too fast-paced,” she mentioned.
“When the mail used to reach a few times a day, I may get caught up. Now, I strive not to take a look at my e-mail after I’m on trip.”
The Zissers even have watched adjustments in society change their apply and shoppers.
“So many ladies pursuing skilled careers have affected household regulation. Males’s time share – what we used to name youngster custody – is heading towards equalization,” Elliot Zisser mentioned.
“There are nonetheless a large number of girls who’re our shoppers who’re conventional stay-at-home moms, forgoing their profession to lift kids,” Carolyn Zisser mentioned.
As they plan to start limiting their regulation apply, Elliot Zisser hasn’t formulated his plan for the subsequent chapter of his life.
After faculty and regulation faculty at George Washington College, the place he and Carolyn met, he went into apply in Jacksonville together with his brother, retired legal professional Barry Zisser, then took over the Downtown agency.
“I am determining what I wish to do. I have not had that alternative in my life,” Elliot Zisser mentioned.
Journey, studying, biking and mentoring younger attorneys are prospects, he mentioned.
Carolyn Zisser plans to stay concerned with the agency and with the occupation, whereas having the time to revisit one thing she loved early in life.
“I nonetheless seek the advice of with shoppers after which refer them to the agency. I wish to use my abilities any manner I can and nonetheless have the time to transition.
“I additionally wish to take piano classes like I did after I was a younger youngster. It is a artistic time. It makes me take into consideration the current and what I wish to do at the moment,” she mentioned.
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