Founding a startup while raising a family has many challenges. James’ daughter was born the same year he started his company. This talk will discuss the trials, tribulations, and learnings of founder/parents.

James Haggard (SavvySuit) graduated cum laude from Florida A&M University College of Law. He’s an experienced family law attorney and former legal aid attorney. Prior to joining the legal profession, Mr. Haggard worked on computer and systems engineering project funded by DARPA, Department of Energy, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for over 15 years. His engineering background provided him experience primarily in building data acquisition and analysis systems and tools for large scale energy projects. In addition Mr. Haggard is skilled in network engineering, web/desktop/mobile application development, and business process analysis.

Mr. Haggard is also an experienced lecturer. He has spoken on a variety of topics ranging from legal technology to solar panels. The highlights of his speaking career include, Legal Service Corporation’s 2015 Technology Innovation Grant Conference; Mediation & Domestic Violence: Negotiating A Path Through The Storm as a Florida Bar CLE; iSpy: The Ethical Use & Misuse of Technology in the Practice of Law to the Paralegal Association of Florida; presentation to Ambassador and Chief of Protocol of the United States and select UN delegates on the status of renewable energy research and educational programs. James has instructed over 25 workshops to students, educators, and professionals on fuel cells, photovoltaics, and renewable energy technologies; and presented papers at the IEEE World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion and ISES Solar World Congress (2005 – 2008).

In 2014, James Haggard co-founded the legal technology startup, SavvySuit, who’s past and current projects include Florida Pro Bono Matters (with the Florida Bar Foundation), Florida Fresh Start (with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid), and Groundwork (with LawNY). Mr. Haggard is an engineer who likes to make things more efficient. Since joining the legal profession in 2012, he’s brought his engineering eye to both the practice of the law and to legal technology.