MEET Layal Souwed

Contact Layal: lsouwed@torresvictor.com

I have been a civil litigator since I joined the Florida Bar in 2018. Having been the daughter of Lebanese immigrants imparted on me wisdom, including perseverance, determination, and hard work. After attending high school at Boca Raton Community High School in Boca Raton, Florida, I attended Florida State University where I obtained my B.S. in Criminology with a Minor in Arabic Linguistics in 2011. My interest in criminology and my courses related to the psychology behind why people commit crimes inspired me to choose a career as a lawyer, which lead me to obtain my J.D. from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law in 2014.

I have devoted my practice primarily on civil/commercial defense litigation and insurance coverage, including first party property, employment law, and liability defense (premises liability, negligent security, motor vehicle, etc.). My experience includes working with both individuals and corporations, as well as, working as a plaintiff attorney wherein I developed first hand knowledge as to how the other side thinks.

In Law School, I interned for the Honorable Judge Kathleen McHugh of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Broward County, as well as the City of Fort Lauderdale Prosecutor’s Office, and the Broward County State Attorney’s Office where I interned in their Sexual Battery Unit and worked with victims of domestic violence and assault.

While attending college and law school, I was heavily involved in community outreach projects. I served as the Ambassador of Community Service Relations at Florida State University, wherein I assisted with community service projects.  Further, I was on the Board of the Public Interest Law Society (P.I.L.S.), which is a non-profit, student run organization that is dedicated to helping the community by providing access to legal services and public service projects. I served as the Public Relations Director and Volunteer Director for P.I.L.S. throughout Law School.

I authored an article entitled Rebecca Lee Falcon v. State of Florida: Extreme Sentences Given to Minors, which was published in the Florida Bar’s Public Interest Law Journal, Volume 4, Issue 1, Fall 2014. I also wrote an article entitled Resurgence of COVID-19 and its Variants Transforms the Employment Landscape, which was published in the Checkoff, a Publication of the Florida Bar’s Labor & Employment Law Section, Volume LXI, No. 1, September 2021.

I have proven myself to be an exceptional litigator and have demonstrated extensive civil litigation experience in both County and Circuit Courts throughout the State of Florida.