Sketchley Law Firm

08/27/2026

We are honored to sponsor Shine Tallahassee!

Consider joining them for an evening of entertaining music benefitting Shine Tallahassee at 6:30 pm on Sept. 12 at Amicus Brewing.

08/26/2026

💖 Poured ourselves a cup of ambition and a box of donuts this morning. ☕🍩

Our office is in collective mourning today as we honor the one, the only, the Queen of Country herself—Dolly Parton.

To celebrate a legendary life filled with warmth, endless wit, and unmatched generosity, we did what Dolly would want us to do: gathered round for some good old-fashioned comfort food. We went on a mission to find the absolute most pink, bright, and sweet treats we could get our hands on to match her larger-than-life spirit. 🎀✨

(Note: Actual rhinestones were ruled out as a donut topping for safety reasons, but we think the colorful sprinkles and pink icing carry the spirit just fine!)

As we savor these treats, we’re remembering the incredible legacy she left behind—not just her timeless music, but her giant heart:

📚 The Imagination Library: Giving millions of free books to children every month.

🎶 The Master Class in Songwriting: Writing both "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" in the exact same day.

💕 Pure Kindness: Proving that you can be a global superstar while staying humble, hilarious, and grounded in love.

"If you see someone without a smile, give 'em one of yours." Today, we’re sharing smiles, sweet treats, and a whole lot of love in honor of Aunt Dolly. 🌸 💕

How are you honoring the Queen of Country today?
Drop your favorite Dolly song or memory in the comments below! 👇✨

08/25/2026

Dolly Parton, a dirt poor girl from Tennessee who became an international music star nominated for more than 50 Grammys, whose songs and duets have been streamed on line billions of times, famous for her role in the movie 9 to 5, and who gave millions of children books for free, has died at age 80. As we mourn her, we want everyone to take a moment and make someone in your world smile.

Dolly Parton, the beloved music and film star known for her vibrant personality and poignant songwriting, has died. She was 80 years old.

08/25/2026

Remembering Dolly Parton, a national treasure. Coat of Many Colors is one of her most beautiful songs and a personal favorite of Attorney Sketchley. Take a moment today and remember the beauty that brought to the world. Be the Dolly Parton in your world.

"Coat Of Many Colors" appears on Diamonds & Rhinestones: The Greate...

08/24/2026

They told me a paralegal career meant drafting pleadings, managing deadlines, and endless research.

They didn't tell me the job description occasionally includes tactical cat rescue operations, setting traps in formal wear, and negotiating terms with local felines. 🐾📦

Every single day is a brand-new adventure, and you truly never know what you're walking into. 10/10 highly recommend this career track!
..Okay, full disclaimer: we’re just kidding. Most paralegals are safely confined to their offices and rarely get released for field trips.

Our office is just a little different. 😉

08/22/2026

Our team had the absolute privilege of spending an evening with the residents of Independence Landing—a remarkable organization dedicated to empowering individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities to live independent, purpose-filled lives while building a vibrant community.

From sharing a wonderful dinner and playing games to engaging in truly meaningful conversations, it was an evening filled with connection and joy.
What made the night even more special was seeing the next generation step up to serve. We were joined by student volunteers, including Tazara’s son, Liam, and Marisa’s daughter, Savannah—both students at St. John Paul II Catholic High School—who worked right alongside our firm to host and serve the residents.

Independence Landing is an incredible asset to our local community, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to support their mission. Thank you to everyone who joined us in making this evening so memorable!

08/18/2026

Our associate attorney Tazara is officially 20 weeks pregnant, which means Baby Fields is officially "Half Baked!"

08/06/2026

Happy National Paralegal Day! 🎉

Today, we’re celebrating the absolute heart of our team—our paralegal, Marisa!

If you’ve ever wondered what fuels top-tier legal brilliance, professional leadership, and seamless office management, Marisa has visually provided the exact formula: equal parts Starbucks coffee and Red Bull. ☕️⚡️

Marisa just hit a major milestone celebrating 8 years with the firm, and to say she keeps the wheels turning is an understatement. When she isn't busy keeping the office running like a well-oiled machine, she’s actively giving back to the legal and broader community. She currently serves on The Florida Bar FRP Enrichment Committee and the Awareness and Social Media Subcommittee, and she dedicatedly serves as a disaster response volunteer with the Red Cross.

Whether she’s handling complex legal files, steering committees, responding to community needs, or dual-wielding caffeine to tackle the daily workload, Marisa does it all with style, dedication, and incredible energy.

Join us in the comments in wishing Marisa a very happy 8-year anniversary and a fantastic National Paralegal Day! 🙌✨

08/05/2026

If you use public AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude to brainstorm business or legal strategy, a recent court ruling is a massive wake-up call.

In United States v. Heppner (2026), a federal judge ruled that prompts and outputs generated by a defendant using a public AI platform are not protected by attorney-client privilege or the work-product doctrine. Prosecutors were allowed to use his AI search logs right against him.

Here are the key takeaways:
AI is not your lawyer: Privileged communication requires a licensed attorney. Talking to an AI engine is legally equivalent to talking to a third party.

Public AI ruins confidentiality: Standard terms of service allow data logging and review, which legally destroys any "expectation of privacy."

Drafting alone doesn't count: Summaries generated on your own initiative—without an attorney explicitly directing the work—do not qualify for work-product protection.

The Bottom Line:
Pasting sensitive case facts, strategy notes, or confidential emails into unapproved commercial AI models can make that data fully discoverable in court or inadvertently waive existing privilege.

If you or your team use generative AI, make sure your organization has clear protocols around sensitive data—and always route legal workflows through counsel first.

Disclaimer: This post is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice regarding specific legal matters or AI governance policies, consult qualified legal counsel.

07/05/2026

💼 Happy National Workaholics Day! 💼

We wanted to write a long, heartfelt post celebrating our team’s incredible work ethic today… but honestly, everyone was too busy billing hours to review the draft. 📝😂

In the legal world, "workaholic" isn't just a label—it's practically a job requirement. You might be a legal workaholic if:

Your favorite ambient sound is the rhythmic thump-thump of the high-speed copier.

You measure your day in 6-minute increments.

You’ve genuinely considered suing your coffee maker for breach of contract when it brews too slowly.

"Checking your email one last time" before bed turns into a three-hour deep dive into case law from 1984.

To our amazing attorneys and staff who routinely burn the midnight oil to fight for our clients: we see you, we appreciate you, and we officially order you to step away from the desk for at least ten minutes today. (And no, reading a deposition on your phone doesn't count as a break!)

Go grab a coffee, stretch your legs, and remember what sunlight looks like. ☀️☕

To our clients: Rest assured, your cases are in the hands of people who literally cannot sleep until the job is done right.