Michael Bernauer was born in Florence, Alabama, and graduated from Coffee High School in 1976. He obtained his B.S. degree from the University of North Alabama and received his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. He has maintained a law practice in Florence continuously since 1984. He also has been an active member of both the Lauderdale County Bar Association and the Alabama State Bar.

Since his graduation from law school and becoming a member of the bar, Mike has been a member of the Alabama Association for Justice (formerly known as the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association). He served on the Board of Governors from 1996 to 2000 and has since served on the Executive Committee from 2001 to present. He has also maintained his membership in the American Association for Justice since 1984 and is a member of the Insurance Section of that organization. In addition to his state court practice, Mike has been admitted to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He has focused his entire career on civil litigation and actual trial practice.

Mike practices in the areas of personal injury, insurance and employment law. His work on behalf of employees has included handling numerous cases for worker's compensation, disability law (including Social Security disability), and employment disputes premised upon the violation of Federal Law. In the field of insurance law, he has handled cases involving fraud and bad faith. He has represented individuals in his areas of practice throughout Northern Alabama.

Areas of Practice:

Employment Law (worker's compensation, disability and discrimination)

Personal Injury

Wrongful Death

Insurance (contract, fraud and bad faith)

Bar Admissions:

Alabama State Bar, 1984

United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, 1984

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1984

Michael J. Bernauer

(of counsel)