Russell David Bernstein

I got a "no driver license" ticket in July 2025 hired this guy to help me he took $1,300 as down payment on $1,800 retainer. He did an arraignment for me by Zoom a month later . That was a Friday. The charge was upgraded to DWLS with knowledge with 250 days in jail plea offer. He called and told me ...that then hung up. Went to a vacation trip with his family that weekend. After he hung up, same day , Friday afternoon, I called and text him like crazy to no answer . I had to resort to Chat GPT to help me. Saturday I spoke to him he lied to me about a few things. Same day, Saturday he files a withdraw of council motion with the court. Citing " irreconcilable differences " whatever that means. A week later it was granted. This so called lawyer took my money and kept it. DID NOTHING FOR THE MONEY. ,and I'm a pensioner living on a small SS check , He kept it , $1,300 and quit. I would not recommend him to handle a parking ticket for anyone...,much less anything more serious.

For a few years I used Russell to handle traffic tickets at the recommendation of a friend, and for a while he was effective. Suddenly, came a ticket in which the book got thrown at me. I found that deeply out of character given my record and his. At the next ticket, it just so happened that the o...fficer made a critical error in writing the ticket. Should've been an easy dismissal. On the day of court some amateur attorney shows up, late no less, instead of Mr Bernstein, whom I paid to represent me. This attorney had no confidence and instead of telling me to stay silent while talking in the hallway with the officer before the hearing, he encourages me to answer the officer's questions. I looked him in the eye and asked if he realized he was helping the officer make his case by asking me to answer the officer's questions. When I looked the officer in the eye and said "I assert my right to silence" the officer walked away upset. This Bernstein sent to represent me would have secured the conviction for the officer if I was any less attuned to the situation. This made me wonder if the prior ticket, where the book had been thrown at me was handled by some other amateur attorney-- something i could never prove. A few years later, I was falsely arrested for reckless driving and had video evidence collected by my dash cam to exonerate myself. I figured I'd give Russ another try. Mr. Bernstein took over $1000 of my money to go to one hearing. After that he strongly encouraged me to take the first plea bargain offered by the prosecutor. I asked him if he had discussed my video with the prosecutor at all, to which he responded it wasn't worth it and I should just take the plea bargain. I fired him that afternoon over the phone. What he didn't know was that I had hired one of the forensic traffic experts that the state attorney's office used to review my video, paid his fee, and had, in writing, a forensic analysis that contradicted what the officer wrote in his arrest affidavit. You would think that Mr Bernstein would have done this, not me, the client PAYING HIM to do find a way to clear my name. I then hired a much higher quality attorney who had actually worked as a prosecutor at the Broward State Attorney's office, and he got my case tossed out with one meeting, during which the prosecutor covered their face and shook their head as they watched the video. Apparently the officer that arrested me had a reputation for less than stellar behavior that preceded my arrest . Bottom line, Russell Bernstein didn't put up an effort. He didn't bother arguing for a better plea bargain. He didn't even consult a traffic expert about my video to see if there was anything credible there. He took my money, took whatever the prosecutor was offering and gave me poor advice. I was smart enough to see that he wasn't representing my best interests. Not many folks will be. I STRONGLY encourage you to avoid this attorney, and to get a second opinion if it sounds like he's cutting corners in representing you. Had I stuck with him, I would have a criminal traffic conviction on my record today for something I never did. Instead, the case was tossed because another attorney got the job done right.

I unfortunately received a DUI in St. Lucie County (which I would later find out is one of the worst counties to get one) back in June, 2016. The threat of jail time was high as I blew over .15; I needed an attorney to make sure that did NOT happen. I located Mr. Bernstein through a simple local Go...ogle search in my area and saw he had great reviews so I set up a consultation. I met with Mr. Bernstein at his office at a convenient time for me and he was extremely knowledgeable and honest with me about my situation. Due to the intensity of my situation and the county it was in he took the case on himself and gave me his cell phone number to contact him. After consulting with a few other attorneys (of which were significantly more expensive) I decided to hire Mr. Bernstein. He was very understanding and flexible with payment as well. Long story short, Mr. Bernstein was proactive with my case and I was able to have it settled with no jail time and still be able to drive! He is an excellent and well-trained attorney, I would recommend him hands down.

Mr. Bernstein!! is one of the most efficient and effective attorneys I have ever dealt with. I am 68 years old in the real estate business and have been in business for over 47 years. I know good attorneys when I meet them and work with them. Mr. Bernstein handled my cases for traffic violations in ...the most effective manner with ease and success. He is a pleasure to deal with. His office staff is a pleasure to deal with. I am so very grateful that I was able to meet Mr. Bernstein and to work with him. It was a most pleasant experience. I would recommend this attorney to anyone with any type of criminal or traffic issues that need to be resolved. He gets the job done!!!

I came to Russel scared, terrified on what was going on and what had happened to my life. He immediately took control and helped me in every way he could. He made me feel like he actually cared and didn't treat me like a number. I felt comftorable with his words. I got a DUI/ property damage. At the ...time it felt like it was the end of my life, I couldn't believe I had gone through what I had gone through because I've never been in trouble, ever in my life. I am a professional woman, mother with morals, values, a proud Catholic woman. To make the long story short he got my case dismissed, dropped with no community service nor probation. I am grateful, thankful that I hired him and that he reoresented me, i followed my gut feeling. It's over with now and I can't thank him enough!! Thank you Russel. 100%+++ I would definitely recommend him to everyone I know.