Julie Kane

Sponsored by RebuttalPR

Let's start at the beginning of your career. It seems like you initially planned to pursue medicine. What inspired the shift in your path? Could you walk us through your journey?

It’s funny to think about it as a "journey." I didn’t originally apply to medical school. I was an undecided undergrad, but my grades earned me an invitation to apply for a program that guaranteed automatic admission to med school, so I applied on a whim, thinking, "Why not? Here’s an opportunity," and I got in.

At the time, I was still majoring in English and minored in Chemistry. I didn’t solely focus on science, though I’ve always loved it—mostly because science tends to have clear answers, and I like finding the right answer. But once I started med school, I quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit. One day, I walked into the Dean’s office—without even planning it—and said, "I’m so sorry for taking up this spot, but I’m leaving." And that was it.

Because of the accelerated program, I hadn’t technically finished my undergrad degree, so I went back and completed it. That semester, I took five introductory courses, and even after advanced subjects like organic and biochemistry, those classes were tough! But I finished and earned my diploma.

To support myself, I tutored kids in Coral Gables, helping them prepare for standardized tests. On a whim, I took the LSAT and did really well, so I thought, "If I’m not going to be a doctor, maybe I’ll be a lawyer." I applied to law school and got in. I was set on Georgetown, but a former professor encouraged me to speak with the Dean of the University of Miami Law School, and they offered me a full scholarship. That was hard to pass up, so I took the scholarship and went to UM. I’ve been working at Colson ever since my first summer.

When you decided to pursue law, did you ever consider working on the defense side?

No, I’ve always been on the plaintiff side. I’ve been with Colson Hicks Eidson since I was 23, and I’ve worked with wonderful people all these years. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to go elsewhere, but I’ve never seriously considered leaving.

What has kept you with Colson Hicks Eidson for so long?

It's the people. We have the best people in the world, who are also brilliant lawyers. I feel so blessed to work with them. Yesterday, I had lunch with Mike Eidson, Dean Colson, and all of our lawyers. It was a lawyer lunch, but it was also Mike’s birthday, so I slipped out to pick up a surprise cake before lunch. We're a small firm, and since the day I first walked in the door, our clients have always come first, but we also support each other in large and small ways daily.

I used to work for Bill Colson and Bill Hicks, along with Mike Eidson and Dean Colson. Bill and Mr. Hicks have since passed, but they were at my wedding. My partners are like family to me, and I am privileged to practice law with them. We care deeply about our community. When I go home at night, that’s who and what I think about.

Everyone in the firm feels the same way. When I was a young lawyer, Bill Colson received the Chamber of Commerce’s "Sand in My Shoes" Award, which is a huge honor in South Florida. It symbolizes being rooted in and dedicated to protecting the greater Miami community. That firm legacy is strong, and we all strive to continue to serve.

Can you tell us about a case you’ve worked on that has had a significant impact on you, either personally or professionally?

There have been many, but one that stands out was a case I tried around 2004 or 2005. My client was my age at the time, a nurse who was harmed during surgery by the use of a medication that should never have been there—it was undisputed that it shouldn’t have been used. The result was catastrophic.

I connected with her deeply. She has since passed away, but I cared about her so much. We tried the case, and thankfully, we had a successful result. There was some media coverage after the trial, and one day, maybe a week or so after the trial ended, I went to get my hair cut. A gentleman approached me and introduced himself as someone on the board of a hospital—though not the one involved in the case. He told me that after seeing the news coverage of the verdict, they went and reviewed all their policies and procedures on medication handling in the operating room. They made safety changes because of that case.

That was one of my most impactful career moments. I’ve been involved in major cases involving auto safety and product safety, but those often involve many lawyers. This case was just me and my client. We made a change, and I know that if one local hospital changed its procedures, others in South Florida likely did too.

To me, being able to make a real difference in the safety of my own community—that’s the most impactful thing. It’s been a while, but that moment still makes me feel good. And it made my client feel good too, despite all that she had been through. And that mattered just as much, if not more.

You’ve mentioned how important your community and clients are to you. How do you build trust with them, especially in emotionally charged cases?

I believe you just have to do what’s right. My Grandma Annie always said, "What's right is right," and that’s stuck with me. Trust comes from being completely honest with your clients. I’ve been fortunate to choose the clients I work with, and I’ve consistently chosen people I trust and who trust me. There’s no formula—it’s about doing the right thing every time. No case is worth compromising my integrity, and that’s how I’ve built trust.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a female attorney, and how have they shaped your approach to becoming the lawyer you are today?

I don’t believe anyone is exceptional all the time—hard work makes a huge difference. I work incredibly hard for my clients. Recently, there’s been an article circulating written by a Miami lawyer that suggests that women’s groups are no longer needed, and it’s drawn criticism. I strongly believe we still need organizations that support women in this field. Over the years, I’ve connected younger women with resources to help them navigate challenges like maternity leave. We’ve spent years establishing protections for pregnant and nursing women in Florida’s courts, and similar efforts are happening nationwide. We’ve made progress, but the work is far from done.

How do you manage to balance your personal life with your work life? What advice would you give to young moms trying to do the same?

I think one of the most important decisions you can make as a young person is who you choose to share your life with and who your partner will be. I was lucky in that regard. My husband and I both had busy careers when we got married, but we made it work. The key is understanding that you can do everything, just not all at once. I’ve always had help—whether with our kids or our parents’ needs. When my kids were younger, I made sure I had enough support at home so I could focus on work and enough support at work so I could show up for my kids. You can’t have too much help when it comes to young kids, and it’s important to know when to ask for it.

What motivates you to get up every day and continue practicing law?

Whether they're catastrophically injured or mourning the loss of a loved one, the clients we represent can't get back what they've lost. More and more, I’m also handling commercial plaintiff-side litigation, where there’s often a breach of trust. You can’t restore that either. What you can do is use what the United States Constitution provides: the chance to give them their piece of justice. That’s what drives me. No matter the client or the case, finding that piece of justice is what gets me out of bed in the morning. At the end of the day, I hope we can give them some comfort knowing we did the best we could for them.

Why do you believe it’s crucial for lawyers to be involved in voting, and why is the trial lawyer community so essential to voter protection efforts?

Voter protection is about ensuring that two key things happen: first, that people can cast their vote, and second, that those votes are properly counted. If I’m a legitimate voter, I should be able to go to my polling place and cast my vote without interference. But just as important is knowing that my vote will be counted accurately in the final results.

The ability to vote and the protection of that vote are fundamental. Over the years, we’ve seen more and more litigation related to voting rights. For example, I really admire Mark Elias, who litigates many of these cases nationwide when people's voting rights are at risk. Lawyers play a crucial role here because we have the skills to ensure that laws—whatever they are—are enforced. I'm not suggesting that people who shouldn’t be voting, such as non-citizens, should be allowed to vote. But for those who have the legal right, I will always advocate for their vote to be cast and counted.

I'm incredibly proud of the thousands of trial lawyers who dedicate their time to this cause. Through the Voter Protection Action Committee, we’ve built a network of volunteers who work tirelessly to safeguard voting rights. Though I’ve stepped away from the leadership of that group, it's now in great hands with Jackie Olinger Rochelle and the dedicated AAJ staff. We still need thousands of lawyers to support this effort, and I'm honored to see so many people willing to help.

Voter-related litigation can be challenging, but we have some real unsung heroes in our community who work behind the scenes to ensure that election outcomes are fair and accurate. It's not just Mark Elias—it’s people in every community who work hard to protect these rights, and their efforts have never been more important, as we saw in 2020.

Reflecting on your career and life, what would you consider your most significant achievements? And what future goals are you excited about?

My greatest accomplishments are my children. I have three amazing kids, and the safety of them and their communities is my motivation. It's why everyone in my firm fights for our community and for what's right. As I mentioned earlier, that’s a principle passed down from my grandmother. I can't express how blessed I am with my wonderful family, and they truly are my greatest accomplishment.

As for what I want to accomplish, I'm looking forward to doing meaningful work that changes lives for the better and making sure the courthouse doors remain open for everyone. We trial lawyers get up every day and go to battle for our clients. I want to help people, and I have learned there are many different ways to achieve that.

Is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to add?

I’ve had so many opportunities to meet incredible people and work with them on my cases and within organizations. I’ve been supported by and supported women in the trial bar for decades.  I’ve been honored to represent trial lawyers at the national level, and you just can’t imagine what a great honor that is. Going to the halls of Congress with Linda Lipsen and being the president of the trial lawyers—knowing that you're fighting for what's right, for the Seventh Amendment, and ensuring people have their rights—has truly been a blessing. But that was a long time ago, and now we're all doing so many other great things. I hope we can continue to do those great things. It’s not just about me—it takes many people, from their twenties to their eighties, who are willing, capable, supportive, and need to be empowered to make a difference. That’s the goal: let’s empower people.