NSU Horizons Spring 2016

37 NSU HORIZONS been injured. Many people have nowhere to go. I like the challenge of that because, as a consumer, the odds are against you,” he said. After leaving the attorney general’s office in 1985, Flynn worked in private practice and taught classes at the University of Washington School of Law. He enjoyed teaching so much that he began applying for full-time teaching positions at law schools. His interview at NSU was his first trip to Florida. Flynn brings an “an unusual mix of practical skills and academic prowess,” said Michael J. Dale, J.D., NSU professor of law, whose office is two doors from Flynn’s. “He has been involved with individual consumer-related cases. He has been an expert witness, written academic articles, and lectured around the country. “He knows the real world. And he brings that to the classroom. That’s crucial in teaching, particularly in the area of consumer affairs. You can’t just talk about con- sumer relations in the abstract. You have to be able to explain to the student what it looks like in city hall, in the community, and in business.” CONSUMER PROTECTION BOARD Flynn has served on the Broward County Consumer Protection Board since 1997. He helped draft the Broward County moving ordinance in 2003 that sought to elimi- nate unscrupulous practices by moving companies. “The moving ordinance is certainly one where we made a difference,” Flynn said. “We had many consu- mer complaints. Movers would hold people’s goods for ransom. They would damage the goods and not repay their value. They would change the amount of money that was charged.” Flynn has provided input to the Broward County Com- mission on numerous consumer issues, including its recent negotiations with Uber, the app-based ride service. He is often cited as a consumer law expert by local media, including consumer stories airing on WPLG-Channel 10. “I love being a lawyer. I love being a teacher. For the kind of person I am, teaching law is the pinnacle of what I can do,” said Flynn. “I look at the practice of law and the legal institution as one of the few places where people—regard- less of who they are—have a chance to voice a grievance. To me, the practice of law provides that kind of last resort to people who, for whatever reason, feel they’ve been wronged. I’ve always wanted to be on that side of the controversy.” Outside of the classroom, Flynn follows college basket- ball and likes to play golf (he played golf and basketball in college). He’s still a Seattle Seahawks fan. He and his wife—RoseAnn Flynn who also is a lawyer and an alumna (1985) of NSU’s College of Law—are the parents of two adult daughters. The longevity of his teaching career circles back to his students. “I want to make sure my students understand that this is a profession that requires real dedication and commitment,” he said. “You try to show them how being a lawyer can be interesting, rewarding, and fun. It can really be rewarding because it’s a people job. There’s nothing better than doing your best for someone.” n Second-year law student Alexandria Feinstein and third-year law student Alexander Avarello confer over a detail in consumer law with Professor Michael Flynn in the library at NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law.