Joshua Bugeja - Lawyer in Fort Smith, AR

Joshua W. Bugeja

Criminal defense Attorney at Fort Smith, AR

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Resume

One of the good guys!

A cut above the rest!

Most of the lawyers that I talked to about my case ignored me when I asked about making payments (one even played on his phone and wouldn’t look up after). Mr. Bugeja was different- yes, he needed money up front to get started, as could be expected, but he DID work with me on payments (and was cheaper than many of the others). Every time I called, his assistant knew who I was and what was going on in my case. Mr. Bugeja replied to emails regularly, even on weekends most of the time, and stayed after five on at least one occasion to call me back a few days before my court date. Throughout this whole process, it was clear that he was respected by court staff, other defense lawyers, and the prosecuting attorney. When he spoke about the law, he quoted cases and rules one after the other. I felt so proud to have a smart, dedicated attorney representing me! In the end, he was underpriced and he’s my first call if I ever find myself in a jam again! A++

About Joshua

Learn Joshua’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Criminal defense

35%

Misdemeanors and felonies, including expungements and jury trials.

13 years
Divorce and separation

20%

Both contested and uncontested divorce actions.

13 years
Child custody

15%

Includes unwed father rights (including paternity), step-parent rights, and grandparent rights.

13 years
Social Security & Disability

10%

No win, no fee.

13 years
Car accident

5%

No win, no fee.

13 years
DUI and DWI

5%

13 years
General practice

5%

Durable Power of Attorney, Last Will and Testament, Lease Agreements, Sales Agreements, Collections, etc.

13 years
Guardianship

5%

Both child and adult guardianships, including contested and uncontested

13 years

My name is Joshua W. Bugeja and I’m a licensed attorney for the state of Arkansas. I am a solo practitioner and a native of Fort Smith. I serve most of Arkansas and am willing to travel for little to no additional charge.

Licensed for 12 years

State AR

Status Active

Acquired 2010

Updated 12/05/2022

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

Contact Joshua

Bugeja Law Firm

104 N. 16th St.

Fort Smith, AR, 72901

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Reviews

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4.5 / 5.0

6 customer reviews

5 Star

83%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

17%

1 Star

Posted by Ashley | November 23, 2022

One of the good guys!

Josh is fantastic! I was so worried about EVERYTHING in my case but he was kind, patient, and I could tell that he really cared about the case and my emotional state. Even the thought of going to court freaked me out but he made the entire process bearable and his hard work and competence paid off because the court granted everything that we asked for and I didn't even have to go to trial. He's one of the good ones for sure!

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Posted by Michael | September 24, 2022

A cut above the rest!

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Posted by James | May 21, 2021

NEVER going to use another lawyer!

I've hired a couple of lawyers for different stuff over the years and none of them has been as good as Josh. He really cared about what I had to say and then shot me straight about how he thought things might turn out or what he could do to help! Ultimately, the results were better than I had hoped for and I couldn't be happier. The fact he worked with me on payments also made a world of difference and I couldn't be more grateful for all his help.

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Posted by anonymous | March 14, 2019

Great lawyer!

Josh listened to me and showed he cared even before I hired him to help me. When I did, he reviewed the file, spoke with the prosecutor, and the next thing I knew the charges against me were dropped! He was worth every penny.

Posted by Brian | January 20, 2017

Disability case

Joshua stays on top of everything needed for my disability case and is very knowledgeable about what he's doing and explains everything going on with the case.

Posted by anonymous | May 2, 2021

Lacks Professionalism and Attention To Detail

I am extremely grateful for the amount of work that Mr. Bugeja accomplished when he represented me as my attorney. What I am not grateful for is the lack of professionalism that Mr. Bugeja displayed and his lack of attention to details. Additionally, he never put his client first and always would take the path of least resistance when it came to taking care of the client. Never challenging the prosecution or opposing attorney. Also he treated his office staff and legal assistant with harsh words and showed no respect towards his office assistant whenever something didn’t go his way, that was clearly his fault. He showed zero preparation for a court hearing and missed important details that could’ve swung things in the other direction. He doesn’t have a professional relationship with the local District Attorneys office and he is not well respected by local Judges either.

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 8.8 (Excellent)

Work Experience

Owner/Attorney
Bugeja Law Firm
2010 - Present

Conflicts Attorney (part-time)
Arkansas Public Defender Commission
2013 - 2016

Associate Attorney
Meadors Law Firm
2012 - 2012

Education

University of Tulsa College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2009

University of Central Arkansas
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2006

Southside High School
High School Diploma
2002

Legal Cases

Arkansas DHS v. Melvy Nelson
Affirmed for Appelle/Client Melvy Nelson - she will not be added to the child maltreatment registry due to this accidental injury to her child.

State of Arkansas v. Joshua Beyard
Guilty of 1st Degree Murder - 40 year sentence (beat prosecutor's best plea offer)

State of Arkansas v. Joseph Daniel Price
Aggravated assault charge (D felony) was dismissed for insufficient evidence; found guilty of assault in the 3rd degree (C misdemeanor) instead and punished with 10 days jail.

View all legal cases

Associations

United States Supreme Court
Admitted to Practice
2015 - Present

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
Admitted to Practice
2015 - Present

Sebastian County Bar Association
Member
2012 - Present

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Admitted to Practice
2012 - Present

United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
Admitted to Practice
2012 - Present

Arkansas Board of Realtors
Member
2003 - 2006

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Languages Spoken

English

Awards

Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 (Criminal Defense - Arkansas)
American Society of Legal Advocates
2018

Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 (Criminal Defense - Arkansas)
American Society of Legal Advocates
2017

Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 (Criminal Defense - Arkansas)
American Society of Legal Advocates
2016

10 Best Family Law Attorneys
American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2016

10 Best Criminal Law Attorneys
American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
2016

Presidential Scholarship
University of Central Arkansas
2002

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Publications

Arkansas Bar Association publication
Tech Tip: Dual Monitors
2013

Arkansas Bar Association publication
New Admittee Survival Guide
2013

Speaking Engagements

Professional Update 2019 CLE
“Oops!” The Importance of Proper Punctuation and Clarity in the Law
2019

River Valley Pride: Presenters and Poets
Being LGBT in Arkansas: Legal Concerns and Complications
2013

Food Tax Forum
Fort Smith, Arkansas 1% Prepared Food Tax
2011

Attorney endorsements

Received (2)

Given (2)

Endorse Joshua

Sarah Sparkman

Criminal defense Attorney | Jan 08
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Josh was opposing counsel on a criminal matter when I was a prosecutor. Josh was an effective advocate for his client in both District and Circuit Court by arguing facts and law that were persuasive to the decisionmakers. Josh was persistent with me as a prosecutor in making sure that the State was following all rules and treating his client fairly. It was very apparent to me that Josh personally cared about the impact a criminal conviction would have on his client's life and was willing to go above and beyond for them."

Bryan Huffman

Litigation Attorney | Jan 08
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I wholeheartedly endorse Josh as an excellent lawyer. I have worked with Josh on multiple matters as his appellate attorney. I can say that his work ethic is second to none in making sure his clients' rights are protected. He goes above and beyond in advocating his clients' positions and, when necessary, isn't afraid to take it to the next level. If you're looking for a lawyer who cares not only about the case, but cares about you as well, look no further than Josh."