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About Attorney Joan Berry Nassar

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

  • Prior to establishing her own firm in 2001, Joan Berry Nassar practiced in several private law firms in South Carolina and Florida. She has practiced exclusively in the area of family law since 1994.

INSTRUCTOR

  • Brevard Community College, now Eastern Florida State College, Melbourne / Cocoa, Florida
    • Writing (Fall 1994), Legal Research (Fall 1994), Family Law (Fall 1996)
  • Limestone College, St. George, South Carolina
    • Business Law (1992)

MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Bar Association Member
  • Florida Bar Association Member, 1993 – present
    • Family Law Section Member, 2000 – present
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Member, 2002 – 2003
  • Brevard County Bar Association Member, 1993 – present
    • Professionalism Committee, Co-Chair Mentor Program, 1998 – 2000
  • Young Lawyers Division of Brevard County Bar Association
    • Executive Board Member, 1994 -1997,
    • President, 1996 – 1997
  • Family Law Advisory Group, 2005 – 2007
    • Chair – Divorce Symposium 2006 and 2007
  • Brevard Bar Foundation – Lifetime Charter Member
  • Family Law Advisory Group, 2005-2008
    • Chair – Divorce Symposium, 2006 and 2007
  • Brevard County Association of Women Lawyers, 2000 – 2002
  • Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court
    • Pupil, 1995 -1997
    • Barrister, 1999-2002 (Secretary/Treasurer)
    • Master, 2008 – 2012
    • Team Mentor, 2008-2009
    • Secretary/Treasurer, 2008-2011
    • President, 2011-2012 During this tenure, our Inn received the “Achieving Excellence Platinum Distinction
    • Award” (highest level awarded) which recognizes the Inn’s progress toward Inn management (administration, communications, programs, mentoring and outreach).
    • Master Emeritus, 2012 – present
    • Mentor of the Year Award 2015
  • South Carolina Bar Association, 1990 – present (Currently inactive)

MEDIATION

  • Supreme Court of Florida Certified Family Mediator, 1996 to present
  • 5th District Court of Appeals Approved Appellate Mediator, 2008 to present
  • Brevard County Contract Mediator, 1996 – 2003

COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE

  • Collaborative Training Symposium, 2007
  • Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training, 2018
  • Member of the Brevard Collaborative Association

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

  • Recipient of First Annual Young Lawyers Professionalism Award from the Brevard County Bar , 1999 – “For her tireless pursuit and practice of the highest ideals and tenets of the legal profession and for consistently demonstrating the essential ingredients of professionalism – Character, Competence and Commitment.”
  • Brevard County Legal Aid – Outstanding Pro Bono Service, 2001 and 2004
  • Preston J. Silvernail Civility Award, 2017 – “For Commitment to Excellence in the Practice of Law and the Respectful and Courteous Treatment of all People and for Conducting Oneself in a Way That Brings Honor to the Legal Profession”

IN THE COMMUNITY

  • New Life Mission – In a Christ-centered environment, New Life Mission equips homeless moms to transform their families for generations. Through education, accountability, and goal advancement, the program empowers families to become self-sufficient and break the cycle of homelessness.
    • Director – September 2018 through December 2019
    • Secretary – January 2019 through December 2020
    • Vice Chair – January 2020 through December 2020
    • Chair – January 2021 through present
  • South Brevard Debutante Assembly Committee member, 2013-2021 – This 15-month program prepares young women educationally, culturally, and socially as our next generation of community leaders. The South Brevard Debutante Assembly Committee serves the community as a nonprofit charity supporting Serene Harbor.
  • Career Day, 2010 – Westshore Junior/Senior High School – “Law as a Career”
  • Justice Teaching, 2007-2011 – Longleaf Elementary – presented an activity designed to introduce students to the rights guaranteed under the constitution.
  • Former speaker at “What to Expect When Filing for a Divorce” sponsored by the Brevard Community College and the18th Judicial Circuit Judges
  • Cancer Care Foundation – Board Member, 2004-2005
  • Yellow Umbrella (Exchange Club) Parent Volunteer, 1994 -1995
  • Past Speaker at the Women’s Center on legal separation and divorce
Practice Areas
  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Support
  • Custody
  • Visitation
  • Mediation
Admission Details
  • 1990, South Carolina
  • 1993, Florida
Education