Joseph Hughes

Joseph Hughes

5.0
Rating: 5.6

Licensed for 12 years

Litigation Lawyer at Fort Lauderdale, FL
Practice Areas: Litigation, Real Estate, Landlord & Tenant

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

About Joseph

Biography

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Litigation 40%

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

12 years

40%
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.

12 years

40%
Landlord or Tenant 20%

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

12 years

20%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in Florida for 12 years

State: Florida

Acquired: 2014

Member in Good Standing

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2026

Licensed in Illinois for 12 years

State: Illinois

Acquired: 2013

Administrative - Not Authorized to Practice

Location

Real Estate Attorney Joseph Hughes

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

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Joseph Hughes's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

15 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (15) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by Sherry | October 30, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Landlord & Tenant

Outstanding attorney

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!!

Posted by Mark | June 16, 2017 | Landlord & Tenant

Exceeded Expectations!

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 an...d great service from AVVO. Thank you!!!

Posted by Greg | June 20, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Landlord & Tenant

The best lawyer I've ever dealt with

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 landlo...rd 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.

Posted by Darren | November 22, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Real Estate

Best Lawyer In Ft Lauderdale

We were introduced to Mr Hughes over a year ago and has zealously represented my family in variety of real estate litigation matters. His representation and communication has been superb. Joe is friendly, competent , honest and will obviously fight his client's rights to the full extent of the law.... My family is very pleased with his representation Darren A

See All Client Reviews

Joseph Hughes's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Joseph
Pete Singh headshot
Pete Singh

Unknown lawyer | Mar 30

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

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

Rahul Aggarwal headshot
Rahul Aggarwal

Unknown lawyer | Mar 06

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."

Renzo Bosoni headshot
Renzo Bosoni

Real estate lawyer | Jun 29

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

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

Ronald H. Weksler headshot
Ronald Weksler

Landlord or tenant lawyer | Jun 14

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."

Evan Michael Ostfeld headshot
Evan Ostfeld

Business lawyer | Jun 13

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."

James M Potts Sr. headshot
James Potts

Landlord or tenant lawyer | Jun 09

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."

Michael Scott Steiner headshot
Michael Steiner

Unknown lawyer | Dec 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

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

Livia Chaykin headshot
Livia Chaykin

Real estate lawyer | Jul 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jennifer Elizabeth Reisler headshot
Jennifer Reisler

Litigation lawyer | Mar 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Lisa Pettibone Webb headshot
Lisa Webb

Landlord or tenant lawyer | Mar 13

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."

Adam David Rossen headshot
Adam Rossen

Landlord or tenant lawyer | Feb 21

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."

Alexander P. Johnson headshot
Alexander Johnson

Landlord or tenant lawyer | Jan 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

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

Edward Aubin Jesson headshot
Edward Jesson

Litigation lawyer | Nov 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jeremy Ficarola headshot
Jeremy Ficarola

Litigation lawyer | Nov 20

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."

Chad L Steskal headshot
Chad Steskal

Landlord or tenant lawyer | Nov 18

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."

Cory H. Morris headshot
Cory Morris

Landlord or tenant lawyer | Nov 14

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."

Andre Venance Philogene headshot
Andre Philogene

Real estate lawyer | Nov 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Tiffany Danielle Ruggiero headshot
Tiffany Ruggiero

Litigation lawyer | Nov 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Kelly Rains Jesson headshot
Kelly Jesson

Unknown lawyer | Nov 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Sheehan Che Gobin headshot
Sheehan Gobin

Real estate lawyer | Nov 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Pete Singh headshot
Pete Singh

Immigration lawyer

Rahul Aggarwal headshot
Rahul Aggarwal

Immigration lawyer

Ronald H. Weksler headshot
Ronald Weksler

Consumer protection lawyer

Irina Rostova headshot
Irina Rostova

Immigration lawyer

Renzo Bosoni headshot
Renzo Bosoni

Foreclosure lawyer

Leonard Wilder headshot
Leonard Wilder

Landlord or tenant lawyer

Evan Michael Ostfeld headshot
Evan Ostfeld

Workers compensation lawyer

Michael Scott Steiner headshot
Michael Steiner

Real estate lawyer

Christopher Michael Small headshot
Christopher Small

Estate planning lawyer

Marc Anthony Diaz headshot
Marc Diaz

Real estate lawyer

Adam David Rossen headshot
Adam Rossen

Criminal defense lawyer

Brian William Reidy headshot
Brian Reidy

Child custody lawyer

Lisa Pettibone Webb headshot
Lisa Webb

Divorce and separation lawyer

Paul Anthony Yokabitus headshot
Paul Yokabitus

Estate planning lawyer

Sharita Williams Blacknall headshot
Sharita Blacknall

Criminal defense lawyer

Mark Theodore Tischhauser headshot
Mark Tischhauser

Landlord or tenant lawyer

Morrie Irwin Levine headshot
Morrie Levine

Real estate lawyer

Alexander P. Johnson headshot
Alexander Johnson

Landlord or tenant lawyer

Matthew Edward Maggard headshot
Matthew Maggard

Real estate lawyer

Juan Camilo Velasquez headshot
Juan Velasquez

Insurance lawyer

Experience

Rating:  5.6 (Average)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2026.

Admonishment issued in FL, 2026

updated on 03/18/2026

An admonition means an attorney did something wrong but may still practice law. The Bar gives the lawyer an admonition in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.

Honors

2017

Client's Choice, Avvo

2015

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Admission, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

2015

Admission to the Federal Southern District Court of Florida, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

2011

Florida Supreme Court Legal Intern Certification, Florida Supreme Court

2011

Research Certification, Westlaw Classic

2011

Westlaw Next Research Certification, Westlaw

2011

LexisNexis Research Certification, LexisNexis

2011

Lexis Advance Professional Research Certification, LexisNexis

2008

Cum Laude, University of Massachusetts Amherst

2008

Paralegal Certification, Boston University

Work Experience

2015 - Present

Principal, The Law Office of Joseph Hughes P.A.

2015 - 2017

Part-Time Pro Bono Attorney, Legal Aid Service Of Broward County, Inc.

2014 - 2015

Partner, Schulz & Hughes, LLP

2014 - 2014

Attorney, Court Appearance Professionals

2014 - 2014

Attorney, Eric J. Braunstein P.A.

2014 - 2014

Attorney, Greenstein & Associates

2013 - 2014

Law Clerk, Vincent & Scardina

2012 - 2012

Law Clerk, Weisberg & Meyers, LLC

2012 - 2012

Law Clerk, The Patino Law Firm

2011 - 2011

Law Clerk, Levine & Associates

2011 - 2011

Certified Legal Intern, Office of the Miami-Dade Public Defender

2010 - 2010

Law Clerk, American Civil Liberties Union

2008 - 2009

Legal Assistant, Harmon Law Offices, PC

2007 - 2007

Intern, Universal Pictures

Associations

2016 - Present

Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Landlord Tenant Committee

Member

2016 - Present

The Fund

Member

2015 - Present

American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section

Member

2015 - Present

Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section

Member

2015 - Present

Fort Lauderdale Central Beach Alliance

Member

2015 - Present

Legal Aid Society

Miami-Dade County Roster Volunteer Attorney

2015 - Present

American Civil Liberties Union

Member

2015 - Present

Broward County Bar Association, Real Property Section

Member

2015 - Present

Broward County Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section

Member

2015 - Present

Broward County Bar Association, Solo & Small Firm Committee

Member

2015 - Present

Broward County Bar Association, Young Lawyers' Section

Member

2014 - Present

Broward County Bar Association

Member

2014 - Present

American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division

Member

2014 - Present

Florida Bar, Young Lawyers Division

Member

2014 - Present

Florida Bar

Member

2014 - Present

Legal Aid Service of Broward County

Volunteer

2014 - Present

American Bar Association

Member

2013 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association

Member

Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Landlord-Tenant Committee

2014 - 2016

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Member

2014 - 2016

United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

E.G. v. Defendant

Favorable

E.S. v. Defendant

Favorable

D.N. v. Defendant

Favorable

M.S. v. Defendant

Favorable

A.A. v. Defendant

Favorable

J.B. v. Defendant

Favorable

A.M. v. Defendant

Favorable

L.M. v. Defendant

Favorable

R.S. v. Defendant

Favorable

J.D. v. Defendant

Favorable

M.V. v. Defendant

Favorable

R.W. v. Defendant

Favorable

R.E. v. Defendant

Favorable

U.A. v. Defendant

Favorable

P.L. v. Defendant

Favorable

C.C. v. Defendant

Favorable

E.C. v. Defendant

Favorable

Wrongful Withholding of Tenant Security Deposit

Recovered security deposit funds plus attorney's fees, costs, and expert fees

Wrongful Security Deposit Withholding

resulting in the full return of the client's security deposit.

G.D. v. Defendant

Favorable

A.S. v. Defendant

Favorable

M.F. v. Defendant

Favorable

M.Y. v. Defendant

Favorable

R.T. v. Defendant

Favorable

S.S. v. Defendant

Favorable

G.F. v. Defendant

Favorable

A.F. v. Defendant

Favorable

M.H. v. Defendant

Favorable

M.P. v. Defendant

Favorable

V.H. v. Defendant

Favorable

Ca.S. v. Defendant

Favorable

T.M. v. Defendant

Favorable

W.S. v. Defendant

Favorable

C.S. v. Defendant

Favorable

M.F. v. Defendant

Favorable

Housing Discrimination

Hefty settlement in favor of Client

State v. Jane Doe

First Chair. Grand Theft Felony for alleged embezzlement over $100,000. Client faced 30 years in prison. Short-term probation with no special conditions and complete dismissal and expungement of all records.

U.S. v. Stanford

Assisted in white collar criminal defense in the U.S. v. Robert Stanford, in which the Defendant was charged with a complex international ponzi scheme - the second largest in history after the Madoff affair.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2012

University of Miami School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2008

Boston University

Paralegal Certificate

2008

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

BA - Bachelor of Arts

N/A

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Credited towards Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2017

National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Fighting Back

2013

Work Life Feng Shui

Corporate Tao

2007

WMUA Amherst 91.1 FM Weekly Program Radio Host

Publications

2018

Broward County Barrister A Move-Out Guide for Florida Tenants

2017

2017

Broward County Barrister Tenant Remedies in the Wake of Irma

2015

Security Deposit Law Website Normal Wear and Tear Guide for Tenants

2007

The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Meth Madness

2007

The Massachusetts Daily Collegian An Alternate Route

2007

The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Liberty over Security

2007

The Massachusetts Daily Collegian Four Up, Four Down

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2026
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution