Steven E. M. Hartz earned his A.B. from Harvard University (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa), his J.D. from the University of Chicago, and was a Fulbright Scholar. Prior to founding his own law firm, he worked for a large New York firm and in legal aid offices in New York and Chicago. He served with the Department of Justice as Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section for the Southern District of Florida. Considered one of the leading attorneys in the United States, the author received the U.S. Department of Justice Director's Award for Superior Performance, as well as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Presidential Commendation. He is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Law and Best Lawyers in America. Hartz is now with Akerman Senterfitt, a national firm of 500 lawyers and consultants, where he is a shareholder and former member of the Board of Directors.