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Joseph Hughes

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Avvo Rating9.2
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Licensed for 8 years
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About Joseph

The Law Office of Joseph Hughes P.A. is a real estate litigation and transactions law practice. 

Practice areas

Landlord or tenantLitigationReal estate
  1. Real estate: 40%

    Litigate real estate disputes including HOA disputes, landlord-tenant, foreclosures, real estate escrow disputes, and breach of real estate contracts. Facilitate real estate transactions, review and draft leases, create land trusts.

    7 years

  2. Litigation: 40%

    Litigate a variety of civil matters including HOA, real estate, and commercial disputes.

    7 years

  3. Landlord or tenant: 20%

    Assist tenants and landlords in landlord-tenant disputes and litigation.

    7 years

Languages spoken

English

Contact

Real Estate Attorney Joseph Hughes

515 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33301

    Resume

    License
    StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
    FLMember in Good Standing201410/11/2021
    ILAdministrative - Not Authorized to Practice201310/05/2021
    We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
    Avvo Contributions
    Legal answers16
    Legal guides1
    Awards
    Award nameGrantorDate granted
    Client's ChoiceAvvo2017
    Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals AdmissionUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit2015
    Admission to the Federal Southern District Court of FloridaUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Florida2015
    Florida Supreme Court Legal Intern CertificationFlorida Supreme Court2011
    Research CertificationWestlaw Classic2011
    Westlaw Next Research CertificationWestlaw2011
    LexisNexis Research CertificationLexisNexis2011
    Lexis Advance Professional Research CertificationLexisNexis2011
    Cum LaudeUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst2008
    Paralegal CertificationBoston University2008
    Work Experience
    TitleCompany nameDuration
    PrincipalThe Law Office of Joseph Hughes P.A.2015 - Present
    Part-Time Pro Bono AttorneyLegal Aid Service Of Broward County, Inc.2015 - 2017
    PartnerSchulz & Hughes, LLP2014 - 2015
    AttorneyCourt Appearance Professionals2014 - 2014
    AttorneyEric J. Braunstein P.A.2014 - 2014
    AttorneyGreenstein & Associates2014 - 2014
    Law ClerkVincent & Scardina2013 - 2014
    Law ClerkWeisberg & Meyers, LLC2012 - 2012
    Law ClerkThe Patino Law Firm2012 - 2012
    Law ClerkLevine & Associates2011 - 2011
    Certified Legal InternOffice of the Miami-Dade Public Defender2011 - 2011
    Law ClerkAmerican Civil Liberties Union2010 - 2010
    Legal AssistantHarmon Law Offices, PC2008 - 2009
    InternUniversal Pictures2007 - 2007
    Associations
    Association namePosition nameDuration
    Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Landlord Tenant CommitteeMember2016 - Present
    The FundMember2016 - Present
    American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law SectionMember2015 - Present
    Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law SectionMember2015 - Present
    Fort Lauderdale Central Beach AllianceMember2015 - Present
    Legal Aid SocietyMiami-Dade County Roster Volunteer Attorney2015 - Present
    American Civil Liberties UnionMember2015 - Present
    Broward County Bar Association, Real Property SectionMember2015 - Present
    Broward County Bar Association, Trial Lawyers SectionMember2015 - Present
    Broward County Bar Association, Solo & Small Firm CommitteeMember2015 - Present
    Broward County Bar Association, Young Lawyers' SectionMember2015 - Present
    Broward County Bar AssociationMember2014 - Present
    American Bar Association, Young Lawyers DivisionMember2014 - Present
    Florida Bar, Young Lawyers DivisionMember2014 - Present
    Florida BarMember2014 - Present
    Legal Aid Service of Broward CountyVolunteer2014 - Present
    American Bar AssociationMember2014 - Present
    Illinois State Bar AssociationMember2013 - Present
    Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Landlord-Tenant CommitteeN/AN/A
    United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitMember2014 - 2016
    United States District Court for the Southern District of FloridaMember2014 - 2016
    Publications
    Publication nameTitleDate
    Broward County BarristerA Move-Out Guide for Florida Tenants2018
    Fox 29 WFLX.ComTenants Fight Back for Security Deposits and Win2017
    Palm Beach PostTenants Fight Back for Security Deposits Wrongfully Withheld by Landlords2017
    Broward County BarristerFlorida' Security Deposit Withholding Requirements2017
    Broward County BarristerResidential Tenant Remedies in the Wake of Irma2017
    Broward County BarristerTenant Remedies in the Wake of Irma2017
    Security Deposit Law Wordpress websiteEntitlement to Recovery of Fees and Costs in Security Deposit Disputes2015
    Security Deposit Law WebsiteNormal Wear and Tear Guide for Tenants2015
    Security Deposit Law WebsiteA Quick Introduction to Getting your Security Deposit Back in Florida2015
    AVVO Legal GuidesHow to Get Your Security Deposit Back in Florida2015
    The Massachusetts Daily CollegianMeth Madness2007
    The Massachusetts Daily CollegianAn Alternate Route2007
    The Massachusetts Daily CollegianLiberty over Security2007
    The Massachusetts Daily CollegianFour Up, Four Down2007
    Education
    School nameDegreeGraduated
    University of Miami School of LawJD - Juris Doctor2012
    Boston UniversityParalegal Certificate2008
    University of Massachusetts, AmherstBA - Bachelor of Arts2008
    Ben-Gurion University of the NegevCredited towards Bachelor of ArtsN/A
    Speaking Engagements
    Conference nameTitleDate
    National Broadcasting Company (NBC)Fighting Back2017
    YouTubeHow to Get Your Security Deposit Back in Florida2015
    Work Life Feng ShuiCorporate Tao2013
    WMUA Amherst 91.1 FMWeekly Program Radio Host2007
    Legal cases
    Case nameOutcome
    E.G. v. DefendantFavorable
    E.S. v. DefendantFavorable
    D.N. v. DefendantFavorable
    M.S. v. DefendantFavorable
    A.A. v. DefendantFavorable
    See all Legal Cases

    Reviews

    (15)5.0 stars
    5 Star
    		100%
    4 Star
    		0%
    3 Star
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    2 Star
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    1 Star
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    Review Joseph Hughes

    Outstanding Service!!!!

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    I can't say enough positive thoughts about Joseph. He is smart, tough, dedicated and truly a good person who cares. I interviewed a few different lawyers before I retained Joseph, and he always had a positive attitude, and was constantly brainstorming for the best way to present my case, so we could ultimately achieve the right results. Don't waste your time looking for another attorney....Joseph is the man that will get the job done!!
    More
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    I must give an Outstanding ovation for Joseph’s theral effort anin resolving a highly important case he handled for our family.

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    I must give much thanks to Joseph Hughes esq. I highly recommend Joseph Hughes as an outstanding highly recommend attorney. He has given our family peace of mind when needed, Handled our business without leaving us in worry. We are most thankful for his professionalism, ethics and prompt service handeling our case with 100% satisifaction. He is a number one attorney here in town and knows his law, highly recommend! Thank you Joseph Hughes, most thankful.
    More
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Highly recommend Mr. Hughes

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    Working with Mr. Hughes was a great experience. He was extremely professional and thorough, was readily available, and really took charge of the case as though -- as one reviewer has mentioned -- it was his only case. I contacted him because, months after we moved out in good standing, our landlord had not responded to numerous requests to return our $3,600 security deposit. I was a little leery, because this out-of-state landlord can be arrogant. In addition, we had accidentally damaged some flooring and acknowledged we expected to forfeit some of the deposit. Our landlord was served Monday, April 30 and began negotiating with Mr. Hughes that same day. On May 1, we had a settlement, and on May 3, the agreed-upon amount was wired into our account (more than we expected to recover). After fees and costs, the landlord ended up spending more than the $3,600 he withheld, which we hope will improve his dealings with tenants in the future. Well done, Mr. Hughes!
    More
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Outstanding attorney

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    My husband and I utilized his services for a landlord tenant dispute and were extremely pleased. Joseph Hughes is hard working, attentive, caring and well qualified. We highly recommend him!! Thank you for everything!!
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Great overall experience

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    I contacted Mr. Hughes in reference to a security deposit a landlord was trying to withhold. Me. Hughes was very knowledgeable, efficient and settled the dispute very quickly in my favor. I would definitely recommend him.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Excellent experiance

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    Professional and efficient. I contacted the firm to help me in a complex legal dispute. Attorney Joseph settled my case quickly and I got more of a settlement than I was expecting. I could tell he was working hard and my case moved along quickly. Highly recommend!!
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Exceeded Expectations!

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    I was fortunate to find Joseph through the AVVO Talk to a Lawyer service as I needed immediate advice on my landlord/tenant issue. Not only did Joseph provide excellent advice, but he went the extra mile to provide me with a critical document that saved me a lot of time and money! GREAT attorney and great service from AVVO. Thank you!!!
    This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
    Consulted attorney

    Security Deposit

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    Joseph Hughes, was able to get me my Security Deposit back in less than five days. After I had been trying for two months. I am so great full, excellent service.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    The best lawyer I've ever dealt with

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    My wife and I had a dispute with a previous landlord regarding our security deposit. We contacted Joe to discuss the situation. Joe decided to represent us in our dispute with the landlord. From the very beginning, we were very impressed with Joe's knowledge of landlord/tenant law. The landlord failed to amicably settle the dispute so Joe represented us in a lawsuit against the landlord. To be honest, we knew an attorney like Joe would be a very busy person, so we didn't expect too much. But to our surprise, Joe handled our case like it was the ONLY case he had. The attention to detail, the preparation and the knowledge of the law he brought to the case was no less than remarkable. In the end, Joe won our case against the landlord. We had a landlord that was very intractable and seemed to not care about the fact that we had a very good case, so Joe took the case all the way to trial and won the case for us. All we really wanted was our security back but Joe managed to recover the security deposit as well as money that we spent as a result of the landlord forcing us to move prematurely. Bottom line, if you want an attorney that's going to vigorously defend your rights every step of the way, hire Joe. You'll be glad you did, particularly if you have a valid dispute with a landlord. And, unfortunately, there are a lot of landlords out there that have a blatant disregard for tenants rights. But you can rest assured that Joe will fight for you all the way to the end.
    More
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    The best lawyer, period.

    5.0 stars

    Posted by

    I contacted attorney Hughes to recover the depoit from my mom's landlady who refused to give it back in full, despite my mom being an 88 years old lady. Mr. Hughes was always available and willing to answer to my questions and calls. At the end he managed to recover the full amount of the security deposit and made the unfair landlady pay for his fees. I trully recommend Mr. Hughes as a great lawyer. Thank you Joe!
    More
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney
    See all reviews

    Attorney endorsements

    (21)
    Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer
    Lawyer Pete Singh

    Pete Singh, Unknown Attorney on Mar 30, 2018
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Hughes is attentive, knowledgable and a zealous advocate for his clients.

    Lawyer Rahul Aggarwal

    Rahul Aggarwal, Unknown Attorney on Mar 6, 2018
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    An excellent lawyer who treats clients with patience, care, understanding, and utmost professionalism - an even better person and I wholeheartedly recommend for future services.

    Lawyer Pete Singh

    Pete Singh, Unknown Attorney on Mar 30, 2018
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Hughes is attentive, knowledgable and a zealous advocate for his clients.

    Lawyer Rahul Aggarwal

    Rahul Aggarwal, Unknown Attorney on Mar 6, 2018
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    An excellent lawyer who treats clients with patience, care, understanding, and utmost professionalism - an even better person and I wholeheartedly recommend for future services.

    Lawyer Renzo Bosoni

    Renzo Bosoni, Real estate Attorney on Jun 29, 2017
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    Joseph is a thorough and diligent attorney. I would highly recommend him to anyone facing issues with a landlord.

    Lawyer Ronald H. Weksler

    Ronald Weksler, Landlord or tenant Attorney on Jun 14, 2017
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I recommend Mr. Hughes to any of my clients who are looking for a Landlord & Tenant attorney. He is very knowledgable and understands the needs of his clients. I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Evan Michael Ostfeld

    Evan Ostfeld, Business Attorney on Jun 13, 2017
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Joseph is a go getter and very personable. Have seen him around our networking circles. He is eager to listen and seems devoted to helping his clients. As such, I have no qualms referring people to him. Evan M. Ostfeld, Esq.

    Lawyer James M Potts Sr.

    James Potts, Landlord or tenant Attorney on Jun 9, 2017
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    Mr. Hughes is a consummate professional. While being on the other side of the aisle from him in court is no picnic, he is a worthy adversary. His preparation and professionalism are top notch.

    Lawyer Michael Scott Steiner

    Michael Steiner, Unknown Attorney on Dec 20, 2016
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse Joseph. He is extremely knowledgeable in the areas he practices and fights hard for his clients rights.

    Lawyer Livia Chaykin

    Livia Chaykin, Real estate Attorney on Jul 21, 2016
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Jennifer Elizabeth Reisler

    Jennifer Reisler, Litigation Attorney on Mar 18, 2016
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Lisa Pettibone Webb

    Lisa Webb, Landlord or tenant Attorney on Mar 13, 2016
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Joseph is extremely knowledgeable and a very strong advocate on behalf of his clients. He is always courteous and professional.

    Lawyer Adam David Rossen

    Adam Rossen, Landlord or tenant Attorney on Feb 21, 2016
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Joe is an excellent lawyer who really goes above and beyond to get the best results for his clients. I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Alexander Patrick Johnson

    Alexander Johnson, Landlord or tenant Attorney on Jan 26, 2016
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    An energetic and knowledgeable tenant attorney. You will be in good hands

    Lawyer Edward Aubin Jesson

    Edward Jesson, Litigation Attorney on Nov 23, 2015
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Jeremy Ficarola

    Jeremy Ficarola, Litigation Attorney on Nov 20, 2015
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I can personally attest that Mr. Hughes is an excellent attorney. He is the type of attorney that does not cut corners or take shortcuts to get to the desired result. He meticulously studies the law and has a very strong work ethic. I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Chad L Steskal

    Chad Steskal, Landlord or tenant Attorney on Nov 18, 2015
    Relationship: Friend

    I have known Joseph Hughes for the past 7 years and he has always been hardworking and diligent. If he does not know the answer you can rest assured he will not rest until he does. Furthermore, he takes the time to thoroughly explain everything in easy to understand layman's terms. He is a client focused attorney. I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Cory H. Morris

    Cory Morris, Landlord or tenant Attorney on Nov 14, 2015
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Joseph is a professional and dedicated attorney. He is courteous and is passionate about helping people. I endorse this attorney.

    No photo

    Andre Philogene, Real estate Attorney on Nov 9, 2015
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Tiffany Danielle Ruggiero

    Tiffany Ruggiero, Litigation Attorney on Nov 9, 2015
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Kelly Rains Jesson

    Kelly Jesson, Unknown Attorney on Nov 9, 2015
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Lawyer Sheehan Che Gobin

    Sheehan Gobin, Real estate Attorney on Nov 9, 2015
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

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