The Founder’s Story

BETTY F. TOUSSAINT is a first generation Haitian-American, born and raised in Miami, Florida.  In 1997, she graduated from the University of Florida where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History with a minor in Criminal Justice.  Little did she know, two short years later she would become a first-time mother and first-year law student within the span of five months.

Law school was as rigorous as one would expect. She worked hard to learn how to become a good lawyer. In addition, she sharpened her oral skills as a future trial attorney and earned a place as a member of the University of Florida Trial Team. Balancing law school in one hand and a child with significant speech and language delays and sensory integration issues in the other hand (as a single parent) was no easy task for this future attorney. However, motherhood supplemented her legal education and supplied an intense passion for advocating for the rights of children with special needs and families.  Despite her “lively” law school schedule, Betty F. Toussaint graduated in 2002!

Upon completing her Juris Doctor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, she started her legal career as a prosecutor for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in Sarasota.  Three years later she started the Law Office of Betty F. Toussaint (d/b/a Toussaint Law, PLLC) where she represented criminal defendants and litigants.  During that period, she received a calling to teach and work with youth.  As a result, she traveled with her son to Andrews University Theological Seminary where she earned her Masters of Arts in Youth Ministry.  After completing her Masters, she moved to the metro-Atlanta area where she served as a youth minister, taught several criminal justice courses at the college level, and immersed herself in youth outreach.  Furthermore, she served as a school administrator in North Carolina for several years. She is licensed to practice law in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. 

As you can see, our founder’s education, professional experience, and motherhood converged in a journey filled with myriad life lessons. The most invaluable lesson she learned is the art of praying to God for strength, patience, faith, hope, and unfailing love.  The journey she has taken has cultivated in her the heart, mind, and spirit to serve you, our future clients, with sincerity and compassion and to effectively advocate for what is in the best interests of your child and family for time and eternity.