jose@thediazlawfirm.com

Tel. 305-271-7766

Jose O. Diaz, Esq.

Founder, Shareholder

Jose O. Diaz is the founder and a shareholder of The Diaz Law Firm, P.A. Although he was born in New Jersey, Jose moved to Miami when he was less than a year old. Growing up in Miami, he attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School and is a proud graduate of Christopher Columbus High School.

Jose received his Juris Doctorate (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Miami School of Law in 1993. While studying at the University of Miami School of Law, he was a Dean’s Honor Scholar, a member of the University of Miami Law Review, Order of the Coif and Dean’s List, and the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Book Award in U.S. Constitutional Law.

After graduating from law school, Jose joined the West Palm Beach office of a large firm with offices throughout Florida and Michigan. He was a member of the firm’s litigation department and represented clients in a wide variety of civil matters, including contract, employment, construction, and probate disputes.

In January 1997, Jose returned to Miami and joined a large, full-service Florida commercial law firm as a member of the firm’s litigation department and Employment Law Practice Group. In addition to other legal matters, Jose represented local and national employers in a variety of workplace-related matters in state and federal courts and before local, state, and federal administrative agencies.

Jose started The Diaz Law Firm, P.A. in 2002 to help both individuals as well as large and small companies. After starting his firm, Jose continued to represent clients in all sorts of labor and employment disputes with a particular emphasis on representing individuals and employers with overtime, minimum wage and other pay issues and claims in federal and state courts and before the U.S. Department of Labor. Jose also has continued to represent clients in a variety of civil litigation matters, including, but not limited to, contract disputes, collection matters, insurance claims, landlord tenant disputes, personal injury cases, business torts, and residential and commercial foreclosures representing both lenders and debtors. Additionally, Jose has continued to (i) conduct employee and supervisory training seminars, (ii) represent management and individual employees with discrimination and retaliation claims in federal and state courts and at the administrative level, (iii) negotiate, draft, interpret and enforce employment contracts and non-disclosure, non-compete and non-solicit agreements, and (iv) draft, interpret and audit employee policy manuals and handbooks, among other matters.

Jose is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil mediator. He has mediated numerous commercial and employment law disputes, including breach of contract claims, commercial foreclosure claims, claims for unpaid minimum and overtime wages, unlawful discrimination claims, and claims for unlawful retaliation.

Jose also has been an Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University, Wayne Huizenga Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship, and he also has served as a coach for the Our Lady of Lourdes Academy Mock Trial Team.

In addition to his work as an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University, Jose has been a guest lecturer at Florida International University. Throughout his career, he also has lectured extensively and conducted numerous training seminars on overtime, minimum wage and other pay / wage laws and other areas of employment law.

The following is a list of some of Jose’s speaking engagements:

  • Are Paralegals Entitled to Overtime Pay? Presented to the Boca Raton and Broward County Chapters of the Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc.
  • Wage and Hour Update. Presented to the South Florida Hospitality Human Resources Association.
  • Appearance on Miami Ahora, WLTV – Univision Channel 23, to discuss proposed changes to the U.S. Department of Labor’s regulations regarding the FLSA’s “White Collar Exemptions”.
  • Basic Wage and Hour Law in Florida: Sponsored by the National Business Institute.
  • Office Romance: A Dangerous Liaison. Presented to over 40 human resources managers and professionals.
  • EEO Monopoly. Presented to the Hospitality Human Resources Association of Broward County.
  • EEO Monopoly. Presented at the Annual Conference of the Florida Association for Health Care Recruitment.
  • Tips for Tipped Employees and Other Food Service Personnel in the Hospitality Industry. Presented to the Hospitality Human Resources Association of Broward County.
  • EEO Monopoly. Presented at the Annual Conference of the National Association for Health Care Recruitment.
  • Exempt of Non-Exempt – That is The Question. Basic Wage and Hour Law in Florida, sponsored by the National Business Institute.
  • Practical Overview of Employee Litigation from Initial Client Contact to Selecting a Jury. Employee Discharge and Documentation in Florida, sponsored by Lorman Education Services.
  • How to “Steal” Secrets, Employees and Customers from Your Competitors and Protect Yourself! Presented to over 40 human resources managers and professionals.
  • Who Wants to Be a Wage and Hour Millionaire? Presented to over 50 human resources managers and professionals. December 5-7, 2001.
  • Exempt or Not Exempt – That is the Question. Presented to over 60 human resources managers and professionals.
  • Minimizing Worries on the Web – Controlling Liability Issues Arising Out of Employee Access to the Internet. Presented to over 25 human resources managers and professionals.
  • The Not so Wonderful and Very Confusing World of Wage and Hour Law. Presented to Human Resources Staff of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.
  • Employment Law Seminar. Bank C.E.O. Network Spring Conference.
  • Safely Navigating Your Way Through the Shifting Currents of the ADA/FMLA/Worker’s Comp to Ensure Your Workplace Stays Liability Free. Worker’s Comp. Update, sponsored by Council on Education in Management.
  • New Changes from the EEOC! Grasping the New Definitions, Protections and Obligations of the Latest EEOC Retaliation Guidance. Avoiding the Next Big Wave of Employer Liability. Personnel Law Update, sponsored by Council on Education in Management.
  • Preventing Employment Discrimination Suits; Mediation Strategies and Techniques; and Health/Disability Discrimination. A Primer on Employment Discrimination Litigation, sponsored by Lorman Education Services.
  • Employment Law 101. Presented to the Cuban American CPA’s Association, Inc.
  • Dealing with the Difficult Employee and Anti-discrimination & Sexual Harassment Laws. Presented to the South Florida Information Management Association.
  • Wage and Hour Issues. Current Labor and Legal Issues in Home Health Care, sponsored by Lorman Education Services.
  • The FLSA’s White Collar Exemptions. Wage and Hour Law Update, sponsored by Lorman Education Services.
  • Sexual Harassment, Lies and Spies! Ulrich, Nash & Gump, Inc.
  • Spies Like Us! Presented to the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

Jose also has authored several articles on overtime, minimum wage and other pay / wage issues, including:

  • “Complying with the Fair Labor Standards Act.” Advising Start-Up & Emerging Companies. Law Journal Newsletters.
  • Wage and Hour Myths and Legends.” Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart Employment Law Bulletin.
  • “Time is Money – A Wage & Hour Update for Florida Employers.” The Florida Labor Letter. Co-Authored by Robert S. Turk, Esq.