Office Profiles

CENTRAL FLORIDA ROOTS

Eric J. Dirga grew up in the Central Florida area graduating from Palm Bay High School in Brevard County.  After High School he attended the Auxiliary Law Enforcement Academy, graduating first in the class and served as an auxiliary deputy sheriff in Brevard County before entering the United States Army.

MILITARY SERVICE - Knowledge is Power

Eric J. Dirga served four years in the Army as an electronic warfare/voice interceptor and attended the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California.  After 19 months of training in California and Texas he was stationed at Ft. Hood.  While in Texas he served in the 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion.  The unit crest was emblazoned with the words "Knowledge is Power."  His platoon was instrumental in creating the first mobile Hum-Vee radio jamming unit in the United States Army.  As a squad member of the 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, he and his fellow platoon members consistently proved themselves superior in training with other units.  After his tour of duty, that included participation in the largest Reforger (1987) Training Exercise of the Cold War, he was honorably discharged and received the Army Commendation Medal.

EDUCATION - Double Gator

Eric J. Dirga is a double graduate of the University of Florida.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree within 3 years after leaving the service.  While attending the University he was in the Army Reserve 356th MI Co (CEWI)(SF) Company in Jacksonville, Florida and worked as the VA Student Liaison in the Student Affairs Office at the University.  He graduated as a member of the Gold Key Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Eric J. Dirga went to the University of Florida, College of Law.  He volunteered in VITA, a student participation program assisting people prepare their taxes and worked at the law library, media center, and the University Museum.  He also volunteered at the Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office.  He graduated law school in two and a half years and immediately took and passed the Florida Bar Exam.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Upon graduating law school, Eric J. Dirga was immediately hired by the State Attorney's Office of the Ninth Judicial Circuit.  While serving in the Orlando Office he began by prosecuting misdemeanor cases.  He was then promoted to the Juvenile Division where he handled hundreds of juvenile cases that involved such minor things as shoplifting to major sex offenses.  Eric J. Dirga was quickly promoted to the specialized unit of the appellate division handling all county to circuit appeals and all petitions to seal or expunge criminal arrest records. Finally, Eric J. Dirga was promoted to the Osceola County Branch Office where he was a felony trial attorney.

After several years as a prosecutor, Eric J. Dirga was hired by a prominent criminal defense attorney as an associate of his law office.  At that time he became a member of the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Florida.  While there he assisted in several high level federal cases.

Eric J. Dirga opened his own law practice focusing on criminal cases, he also handled family law cases and real estate cases.  After returning to the State Attorney's Office briefly where he again worked as a felony trial attorney, Eric J. Dirga reopened his law practice in downtown Orlando where he currently practices Criminal Defense Law, Arrest Record Sealing and Expungements, and Consumer Bankruptcy (CH7 and CH13) cases.

In 1998 Eric J. Dirga became a member of the Federal Court for the Middle District of Florida, in 2001 a member of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal in Atlanta and most recently he has become a member of the United States Supreme Court in September 2002.

For more information regarding experience and qualifications please review this website or call.

MEMBERSHIPS
The Florida Bar
The United States Supreme Court
11th Circuit Court of Appeal
Federal District Court, Middle District of Florida
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

To check the status of an attorney go to www.flabar.org  and click on "Organization" on the left side of the screen.  Then click on "Attorney Search."  After you enter the last name the current information for that attorney will come up including his or her "standing" with the Florida Bar.  You can also call your local Bar Association for information regarding the status of an attorney. 

Kasey has lived in Central Florida for eight years and, having survived the '04 hurricane season, calls Florida her home.  She is a shining example of someone following her dreams.

Kasey is an invaluable asset to the office.  She is in charge of the expungements and the civil citation cases and keeps the office running in all other aspects of the practice.  This includes her ability to learn anything she puts her hands on to include the computer technology we use.  Kasey has been involved in law for the past 5 years having worked for a national firm representing the resort industry prior to coming here.

She can answer most questions and find the answer to all that are asked.  Already a holder of a double major, she is considering law school in her future.  She is encouraged to do so and when that day comes we will make all accommodations to help her succeed, with the hope that she stays here after graduating.

Already with a great head on her shoulders she also has a big heart.  She has rescued two puppies (now massive dogs) which she cares for selflessly.  Not only is she an excellent part of the office, she is a great friend.