Sheppard, Camille E.

Camille Sheppard is a Partner at the firm. A 2016 honors graduate from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Camille is the oldest daughter of Bill Sheppard and Betsy White. She attended her first United States Supreme Court oral argument while in kindergarten and began attending court proceedings at a young age.

From childhood, Camille maintained a constant interest in becoming a criminal defense lawyer. To that end, she received a double major in history and sociology from Emory University in 2013. While at Emory, she engaged in numerous school activities, culminating in her selection as President of the Inter Sorority Council in 2012. While attending Emory, she was also selected for Collegiate Leadership Jacksonville in 2010.

After graduating from Emory, Ms. Sheppard elected to attend University of Florida College of Law. As she had during her college career, Ms. Sheppard participated in a wide variety of academic opportunities. She was a Legal Writing Legal Assistant, Treasurer of the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society, and a Research Assistant for the late Professor Michael Seigel in the updating of his treatise White Collar Crime: Procedure, Theory and Practice. She was also selected to join the James C. Adkins, Jr., American Inn of Court as a student member.

Ms. Sheppard’s academic achievements culminated in her graduating cum laude from University of Florida. She also received Book Awards in Adversary Systems and Florida Criminal Procedures. Book awards are given to the students who receive the highest grade in the course and reflects a mastery of the subject matter. Ms. Sheppard was particularly proud of her receipt of these awards because they were in the areas of state and federal criminal procedure. The Book Award for Florida Criminal Procedure was awarded to her by Professor George Dekle.

During her law school years, Ms. Sheppard availed herself of a number of diverse employment opportunities. In addition to her work at University of Florida, she worked as an intern for Ashley Myers, a board-certified family lawyer at McCorvey and Myers. She also interned in Washington D.C., for Congresswoman Kathy Castor after her first year of law school. Her work with Congresswoman Castor included researching legislative issues, attending Congressional hearings and briefings, and assisting in the preparation of floor statements and other remarks for the Congresswoman.

Ms. Sheppard’s legal education would not have been complete without a clerkship at the firm. During her clerkship, Ms. Sheppard assisted in the preparation of trial memorandums, proposed jury instructions, and sentencing memorandums. She also learned the intricacies of writing appellate briefs, which require great attention to detail and an understanding of complex legal issues.

The highlight of Ms. Sheppard’s clerkship was her participation in two lengthy state criminal trials, both of which resulted in significant victories for the firm. In State v. Ratledge, Mr. Ratledge was charged with offenses which have resulted in the imposition of a mandatory 120 year sentence of incarceration. Instead, the jury returned acquittals on all counts charged, except the misdemeanor charge of unlawful discharge of a firearm. Rather than a felony conviction with a mandatory prison sentence, Mr. Ratledge was sentenced to time served and retained his right to vote, to sit on a jury, and to carry a firearm. The Ratledge case emphasized for Ms. Sheppard the need for constant and thorough trial preparation. It also served to make her a part of the Sheppard & White team.

Ms. Sheppard is delighted to join the firm as an associate and the firm is equally delighted to have her. She brings an enthusiasm and dedication to excellence, as well as the drive to succeed that is cornerstone of the firm’s reputation.