According to a recent national survey, jury duty ranks just below a trip to the DMV on the list of things most Americans would rather avoid. Respondents described the experience as “a mash-up of the DMV on the worst day of the year and a surprise dental appointment.” In fact, more people said they’d choose public speaking—or even filing taxes—over reporting for jury duty.
Which makes Pamela Klavon quite the exception.
“I was in my early twenties, and I received a notice for jury duty,” she says, her face lighting up at the memory. “My friends suggested ways to get out of it, but I was actually looking forward to the experience, and I wasn’t disappointed when I was selected. Every day was exciting. I loved everything about it, from walking through the courthouse doors, seeing attorneys and clients in the hallways, to having a front-row seat to our justice system.”
Where others saw inconvenience and tedium, Klavon saw something else entirely—a calling. “At that time, I was working at an insurance company to pay for undergrad. Honestly, I was still trying to figure out my future and looking for a career I could feel passionate about. Sitting in the jury box, it all fascinated me from opening statements to closing arguments and everything in between. I knew then that I wanted to be part of it and throughout my career as a litigator, I continued to feel that same rush every time I walked into the courthouse.”
Envisioning a clear career path, this Jacksonville native set about to methodically and prudently make her dreams a reality. Working first as a claims examiner, then senior examiner, and finally supervisor, Klavon’s eight-year tenure with Blue Cross Blue Shield allowed her to enter law school as another anomaly—a graduate student sans enormous debt. “With the benefit of their tuition reimbursement program, I was able to pay for my undergrad degree.”
In fact, insurance companies have played a key role in Klavon’s story. “My first job out of law school was as a prosecutor with the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1994. When we moved to Memphis, Tennessee, I worked for Farris Mathews Brannen and Helen doing insurance defense work for our client Liberty Mutual. When we got transferred back to Jacksonville, I was invited to come in-house with Liberty Mutual where I worked for more than 12 years.”
Building Blocks
Before Klavon considered building a mediation practice, she built a strong foundation as a litigator. Her legal career began in the prosecutor’s office, where she developed the skills, instincts and courtroom presence that would shape her professional identity.
“It was a powerful experience,” she recalls. “I was young, passionate and driven. I was learning the law in the most hands-on way possible.”
Working as a prosecutor gave her a front-row seat to the raw complexity of the legal system and the people within it. She handled a wide range of cases and quickly became known not just for her preparedness and poise, but for her sense of fairness and ability to find practical, just outcomes. “I understood very early on that even in adversarial settings, compassion and common sense go a long way.”
Soon, Klavon transitioned into civil arena, where she honed a different set of skills Even in the most contentious negotiations, she found herself naturally drawn to moments where progress could be made—not through confrontation, but through clarity and cooperation.
“I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of corporate work,” she says, “but what I loved most was the opportunity to take really complicated issues and distill them down in a way that allowed people to reach agreement. That’s where I thrived.”
With experience in litigation and negotiation, Klavon found herself gravitating toward the human element of legal work—the part where listening, empathy and creative problem-solving could make a meaningful difference. Mediation, it turned out, wasn’t a departure from her legal background. It was a culmination of it.
Some colleagues might describe Klavon as a workhorse, never afraid to take on the next big challenge. Others note her incessant drive for justice. However, everyone who has met her comments on her irrepressible “glass half full” approach to life.
“It might sound overly simplistic,” Pamela Klavon admits with a laugh, “but I wholeheartedly believe that we can agree to disagree—and with a little effort, we can all get along. That’s always been my approach to life.”
That philosophy isn’t just a personal mantra—it’s the very foundation of her professional journey. After years spent litigating on both sides of the courtroom, first as a prosecutor and later as a civil litigator, Klavon began to sense that her true calling lay not in argument, but in resolution. Though the shift didn’t happen overnight, she now sees it as a natural evolution, one that led her to open her own thriving practice, Klavon Mediation.
Another Layer
“About seven years ago, I felt like I wanted to add another layer to my work,” Klavon recalls. “Several colleagues pointed out how often I was able to resolve cases amicably, how I had a knack for bringing people together. That’s when I started thinking more seriously about mediation.”
What began as a way to enhance the legal services she was already providing, quickly gained momentum. “It started growing almost immediately, and it was completely organic,” Klavon says. “I realized that mediation had always been my favorite part of the litigation process. It was where the real problem solving happened.”
Today, Klavon Mediation is more than a business—it’s a trusted resource for attorneys and clients alike. Her reputation for fairness, professionalism and a calming presence in tense situations has earned her the respect of judges and the gratitude of those seeking resolution. “As an attorney, I always loved the mediation room. Now I get to be in that space all day, every day—and I absolutely love it.”
Spreading Sunshine
“I’m definitely a people person,” Klavon says. “I love real, human connection—and I love connecting other people, too. There’s nothing more fulfilling than that moment in a mediation when I feel like I’ve truly reached both parties. Even if they don’t agree, I’ve helped them see their situation with greater clarity and maybe even consider outcomes they hadn’t thought about before. That’s when the real movement starts.”
It’s not just about bridging gaps between opposing parties. Klavon finds genuine joy in collaborating with attorneys on both sides of the table. “They’re strong advocates, of course, but they’re also professionals. I really do see the best of humanity in that room—people working hard to do right by their clients and reach a solution.”
That same spirit of connection is what fuels her personal life. For Klavon, the truest joy is time spent with family and friends, especially her son and daughter and their wide circle of close-knit companions. Whether it’s a casual dinner or a full-blown gathering, she’s happiest when surrounded by people she loves.
And if it’s fall in Florida, there’s a good chance she’s doing just that under a pop-up tent, surrounded by garnet and gold, grilling enough food to feed half the stadium. A die-hard Florida State University football fan, Klavon is legendary among her circle for hosting the kind of tailgate parties that people talk about long after the final whistle.
“I’m kind of the tailgate queen,” she says with a grin. “I’ve actually settled cases at tailgates!” she adds, laughing. “Everyone’s welcome—plaintiff attorneys, defense attorneys—it doesn’t matter. The more the merrier.”
And the food? Always next level. “My go-to is 50 pounds of pork,” she says. “You can do so much with it, and it goes a long way. Tacos, barbecue sandwiches, and my all-time favorite, smash burgers.”
Whether she’s guiding litigants through complex disputes or feeding a crowd of football fans, Pamela Klavon brings the same qualities to the table—warmth, clarity, a love of people, and a belief that with enough care and conversation, common ground is always possible.
