Diana Santa Maria attended the University of Miami where she received both her undergraduate and law degrees. During law school she represented the school in Mock Trial and Moot Court Competitions on the state –wide level winning the Best Brief Award on behalf of the University of Miami at the (1983) Robert Orseck Memorial (State) Moot Court Competition. Upon graduation she was awarded and inducted into the Order of Barristers awarded to the top ten graduating law students based on leadership in trial and appellate advocacy.
Since being admitted to The Florida Bar in 1985, she has devoted her practice to the representation of persons injured as a result of the negligence of others. From 1985 until 1991 she practiced with one of the country's top personal injury law firms in the areas of Plaintiff's Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death, both on the trial and appellate levels. In 1991 Diana formed her own practice specializing in Plaintiff's Personal Injury and Wrongful Death. She is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates as well as the immediate past President of its Fort Lauderdale Chapter (www.abotafll.org)’ she is a Sustaining Member of the American Justice Association, a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association and is AV rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
Throughout her law career and in addition to her practice, Diana has served the legal profession with distinction. She served a 4 year term as Commissioner on the State of Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission and she served as an adjunct Professor of Law at Nova Southeastern University Law Center. She is an active member of The Florida Bar and its Trial Bar, having lectured and written on numerous legal topics within her field, to include Seven Steps to Effective Mediation published in the June, 1997 TRIAL magazine as well as Guideline for Handling Sexual Abuse of a Minor by a Public School Teacher, published as part of a National Conference by the National Crime Victim Bar Association in Washington, D.C.
From 1996 - 2006 she served on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers ( n/k/a the Florida Justice Association) as well as on the Board of Directors for the Broward County Bar & Broward County Trial Lawyers Assn. ( n/k/a Broward Justice Assn.) . She was appointed by the Florida Bar and serves on the Florida Supreme Court's Commission on Professionalism and was recently elected by her peers to the Florida Bar Board of Governors. Diana has been listed in Who's Who in American Law, The International Who's Who of Professionals and Outstanding Young Women of America. She has also been named to Florida’s Super Lawyers and is listed among the Best Lawyers in America. Aside from being a lawyer, Diana is a parent and has a particular interest in and sensitivity to protecting and preserving the rights of children and enhancing all aspects of public safety.
Education
J.D., University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida, 1984 Honors: Cum Laude Honors: Order of Barristers
B.A., University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 1981 Honors: Cum Laude Honors: Gold Key Honor Society
Bar Admissions
Florida, 1985 U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1985 U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2008
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
The Florida Bar Member Since: 1985 Citizen's Forum (2000 - 2004) Grievance Committee, 17th Judicial Circuit (2001 - 2004 )
Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism (2004- present)
Florida Bar Board of Governors ( June 2013- present)
Broward County Trial Lawyers Association Member Since: 2004 Board of Directors (2004- 2008)
Broward County Bar Association Member Since: 2005 Board of Directors (2005- 2010)
Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (n/k/a: Florida Justice Association) Member Since: 1985 Board of Directors (1996 - 2006) Chair, Continuing Legal Education (1999 - 2001) Chair, Allies Committee (2001-2003) Endowment for Academy Giving to Law and Education (Patron) Florida Lawyer's Action Group (Trustee) 2002-2005
Florida Lawyer's Action Group Trustee (2002 - 2005)
American Board of Trial Advocates President (2012) (Ft. Lauderdale Chapter)
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (n/k/a: American Justice Association) Sustaining Member
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Member
National Association of Trial Lawyers Member
Coalition for Family Safety Charter Member, Officer and Director
Published Works
Co-Author, "Seven Steps to Effective Mediation", Trial , June, 1997
"Mediation Strategy and Techniques" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1996
"Handling Causation Issues in the Low Impact Case" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1998
"Demand Packages that Get Results and Winning at Mediation" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1999
"Frye and Daubert Hearings and Issues" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, February, 2001
"Trial of the Soft Tissue Case" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, June, 2001
"Cross Examination of a Lay Witness at Trial" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, August, 2001
"Proof and Argument of Liability In the Slippery Surface Slip & Fall Case" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, April, 2002
"Settlement and Negotiation in Mediation" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, June, 2002
"Direct Examination of the Plaintiff - A Demonstration by the Masters" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, October, 2002
"Ten Most Commonly Misunderstood Litigation Deadlines" , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, February, 2003
"Depositions", Practicing with Professionalism Seminar, Florida Bar , Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, December, 2003
"Managing Your Own Law Practice" , Florida Association of Women Lawyers, January, 2003
"Proof and Argument of Past and Future Medical and Related Expenses at Trial" , February, 2006
Co-Author and Lecturer: "Handling Sex Abuse Cases Involving Minors in Public Schools" , May, 2006
Negotiating, Mediating, Settling and Trying Personal Injury Cases Jan. 2009
Do's and Don'ts of Mediation Oct. 2011
Honors and Awards
Golden Key Honor Society
Order of Barristers (University of Miami Law School Honor Society)
State Moot Court Team (for the University of Miami School of Law 1984)
"Best Brief Award", Robert Orseck Memorial State Moot Court Competition, 1984
Listed, Who's Who in American Law, 9th Edition
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Florida Super Lawyers 2005 - 2012
Martindale Hubbel AV rated
Martindale Hubbel Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Listed among the Best Lawyers in America 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012