Category Archives: Blick Buzz

Whether it’s a problem with a deadbeat roommate, a ticket for underage drinking or any one of a host of other college-age issues, many students inevitably come into legal questions. One thing they usually don’t have: a lot of money to solve them.

That’s where “Minute With Mike” hopes to come in. The free video campaign, created by USF graduate Dana Blickensderfer, is designed to encourage legal discussion with attorney Michael C. Blickensderfer and launches today at oneminutewithmike.com.

Students can submit their legal questions to Dana’s father, who will provide a video answer on the site every Wednesday. The Oracle talked with Dana Blickensderfer, who graduated in May 2010 with a degree in mass communications, about her idea and how she hopes students could benefit from it.

The Oracle: What kind of cases does Mike Blickensderfer, the lawyer who’ll be answering questions on “Minute With Mike,” usually handle?

Dana Blickensderfer: He has extensive experience in personal injury litigation and claims. He also served as a prosecutor both in Florida and in Long Island. Other areas he served were in narcotics, Medicaid fraud and DUI offenses within New York City. He also served as a public defender, practicing criminal law within the felony division in Tampa, Florida.

Other legal experience includes real estate, family law, criminal defense, social security and labor law.

O: How does “Minute With Mike” work?

DB: Well, every week Michael will receive legal questions through our forum, and from those questions, he will pick ones to discuss and answer on the air through our video channel on (the website).

Every week students can tune into “Minute with Mike” at noon to see if their legal question was answered. Students may even remain anonymous. The videos will even remain archived on the website so students can freely view answers to legal questions at their leisure.

O: What kind of legal issues do college students often deal with?

DB: Criminal charges for example, DUI, underage drinking and substance abuse or (they may) be a victim to a crime. They may be victims to personal injury cases such as car and motorcycle accidents, slips and falls, and alike. Usually the average college student deals with legal contracts, for example, promissory notes on school loans, leasing agreements, car notes, bank accounts, etc. Driving laws are also a common issue that may not be understood, and here we offer a chance to educate students for free on these topics.

There are so many instances where an attorney may be beneficial to helping you understand your legal rights as students.

O: Where did the idea for “Minute with Mike” begin, and why did your family firm, Blick Law Firm, want to do it?

DB: We wanted to do this because it makes consulting with an attorney easier for (a student’s) schedule and, well, it’s just more fun. It is great that we can be creative and use social media concepts to create an even better way for students to get free legal consultations.

I want it to be a site where people can feel comfortable enough to ask any legal questions they may be wondering. It is hard when you are a student and you have questions and you do not know who to ask or where to turn to.

O: What kind of difference can professional legal advice make when dealing with problems typically encountered by students?

DB: You go to college to get a better education for a promising future. Unfortunately, on that journey one may make poor choices or find themselves in a situation that may hinder their future goals. An attorney may be able to alleviate the effects of consequences and may offer solutions to a situation that you thought there was no way out (of). Handling things on your own may create more stress and could potentially damage your chances of getting the best outcome possible.

We not only offer this free Q&A format on “Minute with Mike” but also, with a student ID, we offer free consultation in person or over the phone. We really want to help and be available to those in legal need.

O: How has your life changed after graduating from USF?

DB: USF is definitely missed. Being on the outside looking in, I really miss the first week back at school and having a fresh start. The real world has no spring break. But, I am really enjoying the work experience at my job. I am doing what I went to school for, which is very exciting.

I think the biggest challenge is the freedom. The world is your oyster and you can go down any road you want. The tough part is deciding what to do with life after college. I love what I do, but definitely do not know where it will lead. It is exciting and scary at the same time. Heck, I might go back to get my master’s in a few years.

Fifty-seven companies have been named finalists for the 2011 Best Places to Work awards by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

The finalists are separated into four categories.

Nearly big

• Animus Solutions

• Blick Law Firm

• Concannon Miller & Co. PC

• Cutler Associates Inc.

• Doctors Administrative Solutions

• Dunn & Co.

• eBridge Solutions

• Ferreri Search LLC

• First Class Moving Systems

• Florida Business Interiors

• Gallagher & Associates Law Firm PA

• Grafx Design of Tampa

• Haneke Design

• Kingery & Crouse PA

• LS and Company

• Magnetic

• MedPartners HIM

• Padgett Communications

• Peak 10

• Protiviti Inc.

• Quarles & Brady LLP

• ReEmployAbility Inc.

• SouthTech Solutions Inc.

• WilsonHCG

Lawyers Giving Back looks at a side of lawyers you don’t hear too much about—the side that gives back…pays it forward..and shares the love. We’ve found quite a number of attorneys who log non-billable hours helping others—simply because they believe it’s the right thing to do. Their stories are inspiring, and hey, who knew lawyers were so…good? If you’ve got a story to share about an attorney who’s doing the right thing, let us know—we’d love to let others know, too. Today, we’re talking with Florida attorney Michael Blickensderfer…

Attorney Michael Blickensderfer: “You think they are small or unimportant donations, and you don’t realize the impact that will have on others.”

A quiet spoken attorney with a very loud and clear commitment to the community around him, Michael Blickensderfer made a decision to open his wallet and open it wide. Although the Blick Law Firm may do a bit of legal work for free from time to time in the classic pro bono definition, Blickensderfer, a former prosecutor and public defender in New York and Florida, decided he’d step to the plate with cold, hard cash. 

The firm contributes up to 10 percent of its annual income to charity. “It varies,” says the very modest Blickensderfer, “a tithe is 10 percent, we are not always faithful to that amount, but we try to be consistent.”

After 25 years in public service and a brief turn at private practice in three other Florida firms, Blickensderfer went out on his on own two years ago. Together with his wife as the office administrator and his daughter as the marketing and community liaison, the Blickensderfers have established their own very personal way doing things.

The Blick Law Firm has established relationships with about a dozen organizations, from the St. Jude’s Hospital for Children to a Christian motorcycle riders association to a suicide prevention organization. “These are groups we have connected with sometimes out of personal relationships with some of their members, sometimes people come to us or perhaps it is through a client,” says Blickensderfer. “We discuss as a family where we can best put our resources and make a difference.”

Primarily a personal injury practice, Blickensderfer provides a range of other legal services from bankruptcy law to real estate. They regularly reach out to organizations and participate in community events. “Sometimes we hear about a needy family through some of these organizations,” says Blickensderfer, who is a committed Christian. “It touches your heart, you feel compassion and just you feel the need to reach out and help.”

“On New Year’s day we went to the Christian Motorcycle Riders Association event,” says Blickensderfer. “We just showed up and gave them a donation. We didn’t think we did that much but they were so grateful.”

“We were just putting a little gas in their tanks; they really go out and do all the hard work. They’re out there with their ‘tanks on fire’ ready to do things and we were pleased to able to help them,” Blickensderfer says.

Although Blickensderfer, who is also a former US Marine, says there are a lot of lawyers out there who volunteer their time he prefers to go the ‘donation’ route. “A lot of lawyers at other firms do a lot of pro bono work,” he adds. “I don’t do that much in the classical sense of pro bono.”

The firm is developing a bit of a reputation around Tampa for its generosity but Blickensderfer says people still seem surprised to see him arrive with a check in hand. “We just want to help the best way we can,” he says. “I think people are surprised in this day and age when anyone goes out of their way to help.”

“You think they are small or unimportant donations, and you don’t realize the impact that will have on others,” he adds.

“I wish we could do more,” says Blickensderfer. “We have a lot to be thankful for and I count my blessings when I look at others and see how many people are in need.”

“I thought I had problems,” says Blickensderfer with a smile and a bit of humor in his voice.

Lucky for Tampa Bay, Blickensderfer came to town with his check book.

Michael Blickensderfer has a degree in business administration from Ohio State University and earned his J.D. at the Seton Hall University School of Law in New Jersey. The Blick Law Firm, based in Tampa, FL, handles personal injury litigation, bankruptcy law, wrongful death lawsuits, medical malpractice cases, as well as other areas of law.