Paul A Meissner Jr.

Criminal defense Attorney at Clearwater, FL

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About Paul

Learn Paul’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Biography: Paul A. Meissner was born in New York and moved to Florida with his family as a child. He is a graduate of Clearwater High School. He co-founded the Carlson & Meissner law firm with Edward Carlson in 1971. Paul and his wife Jayne have five children & thirteen grandchildren. They enjoy boating and traveling, especially on Paul's Harley motorcycle.

Paul Meissner has written The Florida Law Enforcement Manual.

Position: Paul A. Meissner is a co-founder of Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett P.A. He co-founded the firm in 1971.

Areas of Practice:

Personal injury
Criminal law defense
Workers’ compensation law

Certification / Specialties:

AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Florida Bar Board Certified, Criminal Law (1990 to present)
Admitted to practice in Colorado, 1996
Admitted to practice in Florida, 1968
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1972
U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 1978
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1974
U.S. Supreme Court, 1977
Clearwater Bar Association
Florida Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice
Former Member, Barney Masterson Inns of Court
Past member Judicial Nominating Commission, Pinellas-Pasco Counties
Past member/chairman State Circuit Bar Grievance Committee

Education:

J.D., Tulane University School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1966
B.A., University of South Florida, 1963

Classes / Seminars Taught:

Adjunct Professor of Law, Stetson College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1972–2002
Instructor, Criminal Justice Institute, St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1988–2003
Instructor, Southeastern Public Safety Institute, St. Petersburg College, 1990–2000

Past Employment:

Former Special Agent, FBI
Former Assistant State Attorney, 6th Circuit Florida
Former Adjunct Professor, Stetson College of Law
Former Certified Law Enforcement Instructor, SE Public Safety Institute, St. Petersburg, FL

Photos and videos

Licensed for 54 years

State CO

Status Active

Acquired 1996

Updated 01/13/2023

State FL

Status Member in Good Standing

Acquired 1968

Updated 02/23/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

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250 N. Belcher Rd.

Suite 102

Clearwater, FL, 33765-2622

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 9.4 (Superb)

Work Experience

Adjunct Professor
Stetson College of Law
1975 - 2005

Special Agent
Federal Bureau of Investigation
1966 - 1969

Education

Tulane University Law School
JD - Juris Doctor
1966

University of South Florida
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1963

No Law School provided
law
N/A

Legal Cases

Fire set to home
Won

Leniency Sought
Won

Associations

U.S. Supreme Court, 1977
Attorney Member
1977 - Present

Society of Former Agents of the FBI
Member
1974 - Present

Clearwater Bar Association
Member
1972 - Present

American Bar Association
Member
1972 - Present

American Association for Justice
Member
1972 - Present

U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1972
Attorney Member
1972 - Present

Judicial Nominating Commission, Pinellas-Pasco Counties
Nominating Commissioner
1993 - 2001

Barney Masterson Inns of Court
Attorney Member
1975 - 2005

View all associations

Languages Spoken

Spanish

English

Honors and Awards

AV Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2012

Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Wall Street Journal
2012

Board Certified - Criminal Trial
Florida Bar
2012

Publications

D&S Publishers
Florida Law Enforcement Handbook
2010

Speaking Engagements

Stetson Lawyers' Association
Advanced Criminal Trial Advocacy
2000

Attorney endorsements

Received (17)

Given (21)

Endorse Paul

Michael Waddington

Criminal defense Attorney | Jun 14
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Paul. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Christian Lassen

Unknown Attorney | Oct 23
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."

Ricardo Rivera

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 13
Relationship: Co-worker

"Paul Meissner is an attorney of the highest ethical and moral standards and the managing partner at the offices of Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett. He is an excellent attorney. I endorse this lawyer."

Jason Reid

Unknown Attorney | Sep 11
Relationship: Co-worker

"Paul Meissner is the most knowledgeable, experienced, ethical attorney one can find. He sets the standard for defense attorneys."

Lee Pearlman

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 11
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Paul Meissner is without question the most intelligent and caring attorney I have had the privilege to know. Mr. Meissner was and continues to be a great mentor to me and I can say I would not be the attorney I am today without having had his support and guidance. There is no better attorney I could recommend for any issue someone may be facing. He is simply excellent."

Deborah Moss

Personal injury Attorney | Sep 11
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Paul Meissner is an icon in the legal community. He taught the best trial lawyers in this community how to try cases. He is without a doubt the most respected and admired lawyer I know. This is the guy you want on your side in a fight! I highly endorse this lawyer."

Edward Carlson

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 10
Relationship: Co-worker

"Paul and I started this lawfirm together in 1971. It has been a privilege for me to work with such a fine trial attorney for all these years. Paul is of the highest moral and ethical standards. I endorse this lawyer."

Gary Hewetson

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 10
Relationship: Co-worker

"Paul is, without a doubt, one of the finest trial lawyers I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He has been a mentor to me and to countless others within our legal community. He is old school. Your word is your bond. You work hard for your clients and you do it professionally and ethically. I absolutely endorse this lawyer."

Terri Cromley

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 10
Relationship: Co-worker

"It is a privilege to work for and with Paul Meissner. He maintains the highest ethical standards for himself and our firm. He is also well known in the legal community, not only as an excellent attorney, but also as a former adjunct professor at Stetson College of Law."

Casey Carlson

Divorce and separation Attorney | Sep 10
Relationship: Co-worker

"I have known Paul Meissner for 35 years, and have known him to be an outstanding trial lawyer. Mr. Meissner conducts his life and practice with the highest ethical standards and respect for his clients and the law."

Christopher Frey

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 10
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"One of the finest and most knowledgeable attorneys that I have had the pleasure to practice with in the State Of Florida, bar none. Paul is effective, efficient, and extremely diligent as an attorney, a professor and a mentor. I have had the pleasure of dealing with Paul in all of his roles in the legal community from law school and throughout my 20 plus years practicing criminal law, both as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney. He is second to none."

Jason Fox

Personal injury Attorney | Sep 10
Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer. Paul is extremely knowledgeable, he literally 'wrote the book'."

Matthew Donaldson

Car accident Attorney | Sep 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Finest legal mind in the state. An Honorable man and an outstanding attorney."

James Jenkins

Criminal defense Attorney | Sep 07
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Anyone who has practiced law in the Tampa-Clearwater-St. Petersburg area as a criminal defense attorney or as a prosecutor knows Paul Meissner. Besides trying numerous cases as both a prosecutor and then a defense attorney, Mr. Meissner is known throughout the legal community for his expertise in the courtroom, his knowledge about law enforcement, his ability to teach police officers and law students, and his ability to effectively investigate a client's case. I am proud to be associated with Mr. Meissner's firm and am privileged to say I know him personally."

Antonio Viera

Personal injury Attorney | Sep 06
Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Sarah Raaymakers

Unknown Attorney | Jul 18
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer."

Ronnie Crider

Criminal defense Attorney | Apr 30
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work. Paul Meissner is one of the finest if not the finest Trial Attorney I have ever known. Paul has an ability to communicate with a jury that can never be learned. An Attorney either has that ability or he dosen't. Paul Meissner has this gift in spades. If jury trials are the measure of an Attorney's ability there can be none better than Paul Meissner."

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