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Rafael Joseph Echemendia
About Rafael
Biography
After being born in Winter Haven Hospital is 1966, I have lived in Winter Haven, Lake Alfred, Haines City, Auburndale and Lakeland. I Graduated from Auburndale High School in 1984 and started attending Polk Community College. After graduating from PCC I married Caroline, my high school sweetie, and was promoted from truck loader to Package Delivery Driver at UPS. After having my first child, I realized that I wanted to provide more opportunity for my children so I left UPS and moved into family housing at the University of Florida where I had my second son and obtained my Bachelors Degree. From there, I was accepted into one of the best law schools in the Country so I moved to The Ohio State University. While in Ohio, we learned my wife was pregnant with twins and decided we needed to get closer to family so I applied to Florida State University College of Law and landed an internship monitoring criminal law legislation for the Florida Public Defender Association. We were blessed with twin daughters and I completed my law studies and returned to Ohio for graduation ceremonies where I obtained my Juris Doctorate degree. With the help of four amazing children as inspiration I have been blessed with a loyal client base and solid growth since going into private practice in 2001. I have an "empty nest" now, oldest finished with his bachelor's degree at UCF after a collegiate football career and now the twins are Florida State Cheerleaders! Did I mention I was blessed?
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Car Accident
30%
26 years
Divorce and Separation
30%
26 years
Criminal Defense
20%
28 years
Family
10%
26 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Contingency
33%-33%
Retainer
Sometimes
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Florida for 27 years
State: Florida
Acquired: 1998
No misconduct found
Location
Echemendia Law Firm
5473 US 98 South, Lakeland, FL, 33812
Echemendia Law Firm
201 Main Street, Auburndale, FL, 33823
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Rafael Joseph Echemendia's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
24 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews | Lawsuits & Disputes
Posted by Mark | December 13, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Great Personal Injury Attorney
I had a very complicated case I consulted with several attorneys that were not interested in helping me. Rafael not only took my case but got me a great settlement. I highly recommend this law firm. Mark
Posted by ty | November 01, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Excellent attorney & staff
Echemendia Law Firm is more than a 5 star rating. Starting with the receptionist Yesi, she is very polite and helpful, also she is bilingual. Geneva is the best paralegal I've worked with and I've been through several of paralegals. She's understandable,reassuring and understanding with my needs. Any...
Posted by Larry | October 28, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Client
Rafael and Geneva are a great team. They handled my case with extreme care and professionalism. Any advice he gave me during my case came to be true. He is a very honest attorney who is very versed in the law and wins in court. High recommended!
Posted by Gloria | February 22, 2011 | Lawsuits & Disputes
AMAZING!!!
He was very honest and communicated very thorough with me. He did not make promises that he didn't deliver. He did everything he projected and then some! The insurance company offered me $60K and I agreed to accept and when Mr. Echemendia called me back he told me we settled for $90K and then he w...
Rafael Joseph Echemendia's Lawyer Endorsements
"Rafael is an excellent attorney. He is knowledgeable and works hard for his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Echemendia provides a much needed service on Avvo. He donates his time to individuals who are in need of immediately legal answers."
"I endorse this lawyer. In previous years, I worked as opposing counsel on many criminal matters with Rafael. He was always been a fearless, yet respectful, advocate for his clients. Now that I work with Rafael, his experience and knowledge of the law is extremely apparent and his dedication to his clients and their legal matters is unparalleled. Rafael understands that preparation and familiarity of a case are necessities and achieves great results for his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Echemendia is an experienced lawyer who achieves positive results for his clients. I was opposing counsel to Mr. Echemendia on several occasions. Mr. Echemendia's experience and knowledge helps his clients, as he commands the respect of judges and other lawyers. He was respectfully adversarial on every occasion. That meant he knew how to deal with the parties in a respectful and courteous manner to get the best possible negotiated resolution, but in the event a negotiated resolution wasn't possible, Mr. Echemendia had no hesitation taking the case to trial to benefit his clients. Mr. Echemendia is an excellent legal advocate."
"I endorse this lawyer. Rafael is a very knowledgeable and experienced attorney who truly cares about the clients he represents. He is a skilled trial attorney who will stand up to his opponents. Rafael is very devoted and works tirelessly to get the best possible outcome for his clients. He is well respected in the legal community by fellow attorneys and the judiciary."
"I endorse this lawyer. Rafael is an intelligent, thoughtful attorney who is well respected throughout the Tampa Bay Area legal community. Rafael is willing to do what it takes to get the best outcome for his clients, whether that means going to trial or carefully negotiating a settlement."
"I endorse this lawyer. Rafael Echemendia has the experience to assist his clients on any matter, big or small, due to his years of experience in the local criminal justice system. He treats every client with personal attention and kindness, no matter the circumstances. He and his office staff are very attentive, are accessible to clients, and are quick to return phone calls. He is fair, honest, hardworking, and intelligent. Rafael is adept at balancing his life as a family man and a community lawyer. I would not hesitate to refer a family member or a friend to Rafael."
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Experience
Honors
2016
Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2015
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers
2014
Nation's Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
N/A
Presidential Recognition, University of Florida
Work Experience
2010 - Present
Owner, Echemendia Law Firm
2000 - 2010
Founding Partner, Allen & Echemendia, P.A.
Associations
2017 - Present
Lawyers of DistinctionMember
Polk County Trial Lawyers Association
Member
Polk County Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Member
Polk County Bar Association
Member
Lakeland Bar Association
Member
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member
2001 - 2003
Berkley Charter SchoolPresident
Sample of Legal Cases
Criminal Defense
Education
1997
Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1994
University of Florida
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2012
Annual Fund Raiser
Legal issues for homeless
Publications
2010
Lakelandlegal.com
Alimony Guide
2010
lakelandlegal.com
Florida Driving Under the Influence
Languages
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Diversion Program
03 Nov 2014
Q&A
If I fail a drug test on Community Control, is there a chance I won't go to prison?
02 Sep 2014
Q&A
Will a one year filing "48a" on a felony drug possession that has been expunged appear on a f.b.i. Background check
15 Mar 2013