I think you accidentally snipped your quote which causes a misinterpretation. IMO it doesn't say that AC got her first law job in 1981 after receiving her juris doctor degree. . It says she did legal research and defended medical malpractice lawsuits and got a board certification in criminal trial law and the 1981 job was her first prosecutor job. imo.
Edit: Her first law job appears to have been Howell and Howell (in 1980 or thereabouts).
http://jacksonville.about.com/od/whoswhoinjacksonville/p/angelacorey.htm
Corey is a 26-year veteran of the District Four State Attorney's Office. She joined in 1981 under then-State Attorney Ed Austin after a year at Jacksonville Beach's Howell and Howell practicing insurance defense law.
http://www.floridabar.org/names.nsf/0/23723B2D36A730E385256A8300641F07?OpenDocument
Angela B Corey
Law School: University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law
Graduation Year: 1979
Degree: Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor
http://www.angelacorey.com/sections/information/about_angela.php
Angela attended Florida State University and graduated with a B.S. in Marketing, then went on to law school at the University of Florida. In 1980 she joined the law firm of Howell and Howell in Jacksonville Beach where they specialized in insurance defense work. In 1981, State Attorney Ed Austin hired Angela as an Assistant State Attorney. During her 25 year tenure at the State Attorneys office, Angela tried hundreds of cases including more than 50 homicides. In 2007, Angela joined the 7th Judicial Circuit as an Assistant State Attorney in the homicide investigative unit of St. Johns County.
http://www.angelacorey.com/sections/information/trial_experience.php
Angela Corey is considered one of the premier criminal trial lawyers in Northeast Florida. Her career has been distinguished by the complex homicide cases in which she has participated, co-chairing some of the toughest cases ever prosecuted in this circuit.
http://www.angelacorey.com/sections/information/awards.php
Angelas love of criminal trial work led her to seek Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law from the Florida Bar which she achieved in 1991. This certification is based on both the quantity and quality of trial work, peer and jurist review, and a written test on tough criminal issues. Angelas board certification was renewed in 1996, 2001 and 2006.
Angela has been honored for her handling of complex homicide prosecutions with the following awards:
Distinguished Service Award - 1992 State Attorneys Office
33 Up and Coming Young Professionals - 1993 Jacksonville Business Journal
Criminal Justice Distinguished Service Award - 1993 Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency, Group IX,
Role Model for Women in the Area of Criminal Justice - 1995 Department of Corrections
Acts of Courage - Award- Life is Valuable, January 2001
Judicial Victim Advocate Award - Mayors Victim Assistance Advisory Council-April, 2004.