Answer extracted from the From Courtroom to Carline: A Legal Parenting Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How did Oxalis Garcia become a legal consultant on 90 Day Fiance?
Garcia appeared on the reality TV show 90 Day Fiance as a legal consultant for one of the couples. She and her law partner initially disagreed on whether to participate, but she proceeded, using the platform to address widespread legal misconceptions among viewers.
A hesitant start with a clear mission
Garcia's decision to join 90 Day Fiance wasn't straightforward. Her law partner had reservations about the appearance, creating an internal debate before she moved forward. Despite this initial friction, Garcia saw the opportunity differently—not as entertainment, but as a chance to educate a massive audience on legal matters they typically encountered in her family law practice.
What made her appearance meaningful was her focus on correcting misconceptions rather than simply providing on-camera advice. As a family law attorney with 20 years of legal experience across three jurisdictions (Puerto Rico, Florida, and Maryland), Garcia brought real expertise to conversations that millions of viewers would witness, transforming a reality TV moment into genuine legal education.
The episode itself involved providing a legal consultation in her office, grounding the advice in her professional setting rather than letting the reality TV format dominate the substance of the conversation.
Oxalis Garcia — Attorney and candidate for Pinellas County Circuit Judge Group 44. Garcia was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is licensed to practice law in three jurisdictions: Puerto Rico, Florida, and Maryland. With approximately 20 years of legal experience since her first bar license in 2006, she specializes in family law, particularly complex jurisdictional matters and international Hague child abduction cases. She merged her firm with law partner Michael Berry to form Garcia & Berry Law, and has used her platform to educate the public on legal matters through various media appearances.
A deeper dive into Garcia's philosophy on legal media appearances, and how she balances public visibility with professional responsibility, comes through in her conversation on From Courtroom to Carline, where she discusses her candidacy and professional journey in full.
See also
What unique qualifications does Oxalis Garcia say she brings to the circuit court bench?
Garcia argues she brings a multicultural and multi-jurisdictional perspective to the bench that she believes no other judge currently has in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, combining her experience across Puerto Rico, Florida, and Maryland with her specialized family law expertise.
What advice does Oxalis Garcia give to someone who wants to open their own law firm?
Garcia advises aspiring firm owners to start networking early to build name recognition, and to take business administration courses, because running a firm requires skills beyond legal knowledge.
What happened to Oxalis Garcia's home during Hurricane Idalia and how did she respond?
Garcia's home was flooded and caught fire during Hurricane Idalia, and she found out through Snapchat when a neighbor called and videos appeared on social media showing the damage.
Key takeaways
- Garcia's 90 Day Fiance appearance was a calculated decision to educate viewers about common legal misconceptions in family law matters.
- Her law partner initially opposed the appearance, but Garcia proceeded with the goal of using her professional platform responsibly.
- The consultation was conducted in her office, maintaining professional credibility rather than relying solely on reality TV entertainment value.
- Garcia's 20 years of legal experience across three jurisdictions gave her the expertise to address substantive legal questions on a mass-audience platform.