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Josh A Howard
About Josh
Biography
Josh A. Howard is a trial and appellate attorney, practicing in South Florida’s tri-county area (Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties). He primarily practices criminal defense, representing adults and juveniles charged with misdemeanors, felonies, domestic-violence crimes, and both criminal traffic and traffic-citation matters. He also represents individual plaintiffs and defendants involved in civil litigation.
Mr. Howard earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida in 2006, graduating with honors and majoring in Journalism and Communications, and attended Stetson University College of Law, consistently ranked as among the top three law schools in the nation for trial advocacy and legal writing by U.S. News & World Report. Mr. Howard was a member of Stetson’s prestigious Moot Court Board and graduated with honors in 2009.
Following law school, Mr. Howard joined the law firm of Rahdert, Steele, Reynolds & Driscoll in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he handled general civil litigation matters, and assisted the firm in its representation of the The St. Petersburg Times (now, The Tampa Bay Times), the highest-circulated newspaper in the State of Florida and winner of 10 Pulitzer Prize awards, on business matters and free-press legal issues. Upon returning to South Florida, Mr. Howard served as a judicial law clerk to The Honorable Mark E. Polen at Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal, where he advised numerous appellate judges on how cases before the court should be decided and drafted final legal opinions for the court.
In 2012, Mr. Howard was hired by the Law Office of the Public Defender for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida (Broward County). He began his tenure at the office in the juvenile courts and was quickly promoted to felony trial work. In 2013, and in his first three jury trials ever, Mr. Howard was awarded the Felony “Hat Trick Award” by the Broward County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (BACDL) for “Not Guilty” verdicts in three-consecutive felony jury trials. Mr. Howard then accepted an offer from the Law Office of the Public Defender for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit (Miami-Dade County), and left public-service work in 2015 to start his own law firm.
Mr. Howard has extensive criminal-trial and criminal-appellate experience in the county, circuit and appellate courts of Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties. Mr. Howard has an impressive legal resume and a proven track record when it comes to defending those accused of crimes in Florida’s tri-county area. If you, or someone close to you, has been arrested, or is facing potential legal charges, contact Josh A. Howard, Esq. for a free-consultation to discuss your situation and the best-possible resolution to your case.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Florida for 14 years
State: Florida
Acquired: 2011
Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2025
Location
Law Office of Josh A. Howard, Esq.
520 NW 165th Street, Suite 106, Miami, FL, 33169
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Josh A Howard's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 14 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Christina | August 30, 2018 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
If you want excellent result. Josh Howard is the Attorney to call
Choosing legal representation is a difficult process, if you are looking for someone who is knowledgeable about the law, confident, and not afraid to fight for their client. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to meet Josh Howard during a very challenging time in my life. Josh took my daughter’s ...
Posted by anonymous | October 3, 2017 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Highest Caliber Attorney
Josh is incredibly professional, and very knowledgeable. He was there for me from the beginning of my case until settled. I could not have asked for better representation. Josh Howard is an excellent attorney and I highly recommend him!
Posted by Jamie | June 9, 2017 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Highly recommended
I had the privileged of having Josh Howard as my lawyer. He was knowledgeable, professional, honest and timely. He kept me informed from the first day to the last and answered all my questions in a way that made sense to me. At a time when you are feeling vulnerable it helps to have a person working ...
Posted by Sylvester | May 26, 2017 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Truly the Best of the Best
I would like to say thank you Mr.Howard for all that you did for me and my fiance. I would like to say Mr.Howard is truly a top class act a man of his word and will put it all on the line for his client. He always had time for me and my fiance day and night weekend's it didn't matter. I have had my f...
Posted by anonymous | March 22, 2017 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Best Lawyer
Great lawyer had 3 third degree felonies and he helped me get that dropped. One year probation that's it!!!He's very consistent and you can call him anytime. I would recommend him to family and friends
Josh A Howard's Lawyer Endorsements
"Josh is an excellent attorney with years of experience handling both felony and misdemeanor charges in addition to other legal issues. I have personally witnessed Josh in trial while we worked together at the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office and can attest to his ability. He is creative, energetic, and passionate about defending his clients. I highly recommend Josh Howard."
"Josh is an effective, results - driven advocate! I highly endorse him."
"Josh is a passionate, dedicated, and creative lawyer. I frequently solicit his advice on criminal matters and would strongly recommend him as an attorney."
"I highly endorse this lawyer. Josh has come a long way in a short period of time. Awesome trial and appellate attorney in South Florida."
"I had the pleasure of working with Josh for two years at the Public Defender's Office. He is a skilled trial attorney that will vigorously fight for his client's rights. I highly recommend his services if you are in need."
"Josh is a skilled and passionate trial lawyer, who zealously advocates for his clients. I had the pleasure of working under him as a Public Defender in Broward County. I learned many of the techniques I use in trial from Josh. He has an innate ability to pick apart the weakness in a State prosecution. Therefore, Josh is well respected in the legal community by judges and fellow lawyers. He often attains acquittals, dismissals, or reduced sentences for his clients. If you are arrested I highly recommend hiring Josh."
"There's only a handful of lawyers I'd recommend to my friends and family if they were ever in a legal bind on a criminal case, and Josh is one of them. He's gotten a lot of cases dismissed through negotiations and by filing motions. Josh is not afraid to go to trial either and he's even won an award based on his trial skills. I highly recommend him."
"I endorse this lawyer for his dedication, his skill as an attorney and litigator and for his passionate defense of his clients."
"Mr. Howard and I have worked several matters together, and he's always professional, knowledgable and diligent. In the courtroom, he is aggressive and prepared. I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Josh is excellent at what he does. He is a true profesional with sincere passion for helping his clients resolve their legal matters with the best possible outcome."
"Josh is both extremely knowledgeable and fiercely dedicated to his clients. He is an outstanding attorney."
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Experience
Professional misconduct
This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2025.
Suspension with Conditions issued in FL, 2025
updated on 10/21/2025This means an attorney lost his or her license to practice law for a period of time. The attorney typically returns to practicing law when the suspension expires.
Honors
2017
Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers
2013
Felony Hat Trick Award, Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Work Experience
2015 - Present
Attorney, The Law Office of Josh A. Howard, Esq., PLLC
2014 - 2015
Assistant Public Defender, Law Office Of The Public Defender, Eleventh Judicial Circuit Of Florida
2012 - 2014
Assistant Public Defender, Law Office Of The Public Defender Of The 17th Judicial District
2011 - 2012
Staff Attorney, Fourth District Court Of Appeals
2010 - 2010
Judicial Law Clerk, The Honorable Mark E. Polen
Associations
2016 - Present
Florida Bar, Criminal Law SectionMember
2016 - Present
Broward County Bar AssociationMember
2015 - Present
United States District Court, Southern District of FloridaMember
2015 - Present
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Miami-Dade Chapter)Member
2013 - Present
Broward Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
2011 - Present
Florida BarMember
2011 - Present
Florida Bar, Young Lawyers DivisionMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Count I: Felony Burglary of Unoccupied Dwelling; Count II: Felony Grand Theft
Court Granted Defendant's Contested Sworn Motion to Dismiss. All charges dismissed.
Count I: Leaving the Scene of an Accident; Count II: Culpable Negligence/Personal Injury; Count III: Failure to Report Accident
Counts I-III: Judgment of Acquittal Granted by Judge
Misdemeanor Resisting Officer Without Violence
Judgment of Acquittal Granted by Judge
Count I: Felony Grand Theft; Count II: Felony Uttering a Forged Instrument
Count I: Acquitted by Jury (Not Guilty Verdict); Count II: Acquitted by Jury (Not Guilty Verdict)
Felony Grand Theft
Acquitted by Jury (Not Guilty Verdict)
Felony Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon
Reduced to Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct after Jury Picked and Sworn In
Count I: Felony Possession of Cocaine; Count II: Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Count I: Acquitted by Jury (Not Guilty Verdict); Count II: Acquitted by Jury (Not Guilty Verdict)
Count I: Felony Possession of Cocaine; Count II: Resisting Arrest without Violence
Outcome: State Conceded to Motion to Suppress Evidence and Dismissed All Counts.
Count I: Burglary of Conveyance; Count II: Felony Possession of Burglary Tools; Count III: Felony Trespass on Construction Site
Count I: Dismissed by State on Day of Trial; Count II: Acquitted by Jury (Not Guilty Verdict); Count III: Dismissed by State During Trial
Count I: Felony Uttering a Forged Instrument; Count II: Felony Uttering a Forged Instrument
Count I: Acquitted by Jury (Not Guilty Verdict); Count II: Acquitted by Jury (Not Guilty Verdict)
Count I: Felony Tampering with Physical Evidence; Count II: Resisting Arrest without Violence
State conceded to Motion to Suppress During Hearing on Motion and Dismissed ALL charges.
Count I: Felony Possession of Cocaine; Count II: Misdemeanor Possession of Cannabis
State conceded to Motion to Suppress and Dismissed ALL charges.
Felony Possession of Alprazolam
State Conceded to Motion to Suppress Evidence and Dismissed Case.
Count: Felony Battery on Law Enforcement Officer; Count II: Felony Resisting Arrest With Violence
State conceded to Motion to Suppress Evidence and Testimony and Dismissed ALL charges.
Education
2020
University of Miami School of Law
LL.M - Master of Laws
2009
Stetson University College of Law
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor, cum laude
2006
University of Florida
BS - Bachelor of Science, cum laude
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers