Edith Osman, J.D. ’83, cum laude, is a highly respected litigator, mediator, and bar leader whose distinguished career has been defined by service, leadership, and advocacy.
A trailblazer in the legal profession, Osman made history as the second female president of The Florida Bar, where she was a steadfast champion for the equal treatment of women and lawyers of diverse backgrounds. Deeply committed to the welfare of children, during her presidency she established a commission to examine systemic shortcomings in how children are treated within the justice system. The commission’s recommendations ultimately helped inform meaningful legislative reforms.
Osman’s leadership extends across numerous organizations in Florida and nationally. She has served as president of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society, and the First Family Law Inns of Court. She has also represented Florida on the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors and in its House of Delegates for more than 25 years. A devoted alumna of Miami Law, she has long served on the Law Alumni Association Board and has mentored generations of students.
Her many honors include the Business Review’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Dade County Bar Association’s David W. Dyer Professionalism Award, the Anti-Defamation League’s Jurisprudence Award, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers’ Rosemary Barkett Outstanding Achievement Award, and the Henry Latimer Professional Award from the University of Miami School of Law.
Currently Of Counsel at Carlton Fields, Osman focuses her practice on business litigation, matrimonial law, and mediation, bringing decades of experience to complex dispute resolution.
What aspects or opportunities at the law school (curriculum, faculty, connections) had the most significant influence on your legal education and career trajectory?
One of the most significant influences on my legal education at the University of Miami School of Law was the emphasis on disciplined analytical thinking. In my first year, Professor Richard Hausler, who taught contracts, used the classic Socratic method made famous by the movie The Paper Chase. He was demanding and intimidating, and he pushed students to think critically and defend their reasoning under pressure. In retrospect, that experience taught me how to analyze complex issues, think quickly, and approach problems with precision and confidence — skills that became the foundation of both my legal practice and my leadership roles within the profession and community.
Equally important were the lifelong relationships I formed with the administration, professors, and fellow students. Those connections enriched my professional life, created lasting friendships, and became an important network of support and collegiality throughout my career.
What is one lesson you learned in law school that you still apply today?
When I began law school at the University of Miami School of Law, Soia Mentschikoff was the Dean. She was a brilliant, legendary scholar who rose to the top in what was then very much a man’s world. One of her favorite sayings has stayed with me throughout my career. “There are no women lawyers, just lawyers who happen to be women.” That simple but powerful statement embodied a principle I have carried with me ever since: People should be judged on their merit, not by gender, race, nationality, sexual orientation or any other label. It reflects the ideal that our profession and our society should strive for: to be fair, inclusive and blind to bias. I have tried to follow that philosophy in every aspect of my professional, community and personal life, including my work as President of the Florida Bar, where I advocated for equal treatment and opportunity for everyone within the legal profession.
What draws you to stay connected to the law school?
What continues to draw me back to the University of Miami School of Law is gratitude and a deep sense of connection. I began law school as the mother of a two-year-old and a six-year-old, at a time when there were very few women balancing the demands of raising young children while pursuing a legal education. The law school gave me the opportunity not only to earn a degree, but to build a meaningful career and ultimately become a leader within our profession. The education, encouragement, and opportunities I received there helped shape the course of my life. Staying connected to the law school is my way of giving back to an institution that invested in me at a pivotal time. I want today’s students — especially those taking a less traditional path — to know that success and leadership are possible. I also remain connected because I care deeply about the future of the legal profession and the role the law school plays in grooming thoughtful, ethical lawyers. Supporting the school is both a privilege and a way of honoring all that it made possible for me.
