Retired
Tallahassee personal injury lawyer Vinse Barrett has been practicing law for over 40 years. During his career, he has earned his reputation as one of the top attorneys in both legal ability and ethical standards. Vinse was born in Gainesville and grew up in Pensacola. He graduated from the University of South Florida and obtained his law degree from the University of Florida in 1976 following four years of domestic and foreign service as an officer in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Captain.
His first position as a lawyer was with the State Attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit here in North Florida, where he sharpened his trial skills and gained valuable courtroom experience prosecuting criminal cases in Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Franklin Counties.
After leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Vinse practiced in and became a partner of a general practice firm doing commercial litigation, criminal defense, and some personal injury and medical malpractice, and was a founding partner of the firm that evolved to be Barrett, Fasig & Brooks.
He was court appointed to defend capital murder cases in Leon and Wakulla counties, and has also been appointed as an Acting States Attorney in Leon County. In 1983 he began to emphasize personal injury litigation in his practice. Since the mid 1990s, his practice has been limited to helping people injured by medical malpractice or defective medical and pharmaceutical products in State and Federal Courts in Florida and Georgia.
Vinse is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubble. “AV Preeminent” means the “Highest Possible Rating” in both legal ability and ethical standards. The AV rating is the pinnacle of professional excellence earned through a strenuous peer review rating process, that is managed and monitored by the world’s most trusted legal resource, Martindale-Hubble. Vinse and his former partner, Silas Eubanks, set the standard by which our partners and lawyers interact with our peers, the courts, and the public on an ongoing basis.
He is an Eagle member of the Florida Justice Association (formerly known as the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers) and a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He has been a guest lecturer on trial practice at Florida State University College of Law, has presented continuing legal education courses to other Florida trial lawyers, and has taught evidence to cadets at the Florida Highway Patrol Academy.
Vinse is a past member of the Board of Directors of Florida Children’s Home Society and has been recognized by the Supreme Court of Florida for providing pro bono legal services to people unable to afford counsel. Vinse brings years of expertise to our Tallahassee law firm and is among the best personal injury attorneys in the state.
Vinse is married to Carlene Barrett, and has 2 sons and a granddaughter.
“Vinse has been practicing law for over 40 years.”
Education
- University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1976 – J.D., Juris Doctor
- University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 1969 – B.A., Bachelor of Arts, Major: English
- Pensacola Junior College, Pensacola, Florida – A.A.
Professional and Charitable Associations/Memberships
- Florida Justice Association
- Tallahassee Bar Association
- Capital City Justice Association
- Florida Children’s Home Society (Past Member, Board of Directors)
- Springtime Tallahassee
- Gator Boosters
- Pi Kappa Alpha
Past employment positions
- United States Army, Company Commander, 2d Infantry Division
- 2nd Judicial Circuit, Florida, Assistant State Attorney
Bar admissions
- Florida, 1976
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1977
Classes & seminars taught
- Guest Lecturer, Trial Practice, Florida State University College of Law
He specializes in:
- Medical Malpractice
- Medical and Pharmaceutical Products Liability