Practice areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI, White Collar Crimes; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1996
Education: Stetson University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2009, 2019 - 2025 Call today:
850-739-0019
Free Consultation Bodiford Law
2019 Centre Pointe BlvdSuite 102
Tallahassee, FL 32308 Visit website
Joseph C. Bodiford is the founding principal at Bodiford Law in Tallahassee, Florida, where he has built a 28-year reputation for tenacious yet compassionate defense. He represents clients in personal injury matters – most notably car accidents – alongside DUI/DWI, white collar crimes, drug offenses and a broad spectrum of other criminal charges. His proven record in jury trials, appellate proceedings and post-conviction relief underscores his strategic insight and steadfast commitment to client advocacy.
A graduate of Stetson University College of Law (J.D. and LL.M. with honors), Mr. Bodiford earned board certification in criminal trial law from The Florida Bar and in criminal trial advocacy from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is also a certified advocate through the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) and is admitted before the U.S. Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and the United States Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, as well as all Florida state courts.
Praised by peers and clients alike for incisive legal analysis and calm under pressure, Mr. Bodiford began his career as a state prosecutor and later served as a legal analyst for WCTV. He continues to shape future trial lawyers as an adjunct professor of advanced advocacy and speaks regularly at professional seminars.
A driving force in the legal community, Mr. Bodiford is a former president of the Tallahassee Bar Association and has served as an officer in multiple criminal defense groups. His work has earned recognition from Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 and a “Superb” Avvo rating. He also holds an AV Preeminent* peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, DUI/DWI, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, False Accusations, Felony, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Overdrawn Bank Account, Probation, Prosecution, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Traffic Violations, Trucking Accidents, White Collar Crime, Wrongful Death
- 40% Criminal Defense
- 20% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 20% Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 20% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1996, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.bodifordlaw.com/team-member/joseph-c-bodiford/
Bar / Professional Activity
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2002
- Hillsborough County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section, Vice-Chair, 2011 – 2012
- Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Board of Directors, 2009 – 2013
- Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, President, 2008 – 2009
- Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Vice-President, 2006 – 2007
- Federal Bar Association, Former Member
- Florida Bar Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, Representative, 2005 – 2006
- Florida Bar Traffic Rules Committee, Chair, 2005 – 2006
- Florida Bar Traffic Rules Committee, Vice-Chair, 2004
- Florida Bar Traffic Rules Committee, 2002 – 2006
- Florida Bar Criminal Law Certification Committee, 2006 – 2009
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL)
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- William Stafford American Inn of Court, Tallahassee, Florida, Master of the Inn (Alumni member)
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Tallahassee Chapter (Secretary, 2020 – present)
- Florida (all state courts)
- Supreme Court of Florida, 1996
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2008
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1996
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1996
- Tallahassee Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2018-2023; served as Secretary (2018), Treasurer (2019-2020), President-Elect (2021), and President of the Bar, 2023.
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Certified Advocate, The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NITA), 2023
- Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Certification (2003 - present), 2003
- Board Certified in Criminal Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, 2013
Pro bono / Community Service
- Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra (Board of Directors member, 2015- present)
- International Trumpet Guild (General Counsel, 2010 – 2015)
- Florida Bar Grievance Committee 13F, 2006 – 2008
- Barrister (Alumni member), Goldburg-Cacciatore Criminal American Inn of Court
- Master (Alumni member), William H. Stafford American Inn of Court
Educational Background
- LL.M. (with Distinction) in Advocacy, Stetson University College of Law
- Florida State University, Master of Music, Major: Trumpet Performance, Honors: Winner, 1992 National Trumpet Competition (Washington, D.C.), numerous regional and national competitions – May, 1993
- Florida State University, Bachelor of Arts in Music – August, 1991
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Lecturer at Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Tampa Police Department, and Florida Highway Patrol (1997–1999)
- “Practicing with Professionalism,” Pinellas County Bar Association (March 2012)
- “The Paralegal Behind the Scenes”, Tampa Bay Paralegal Association (2013)
- Lecturer for FSU Mock Trial Team (Summer 2015, “Opening Statements”)
- Lecturer for FSU PAD Trial Team (Fall 2015, “Cross Examination, Opening Statements”)
- Lecturer for FSU COL “Juvenile Law” class (cross examination) (2016–2017)
- “The 3 Rules of Cross Examination”, Tallahassee Bar Association (2016)
- “Storytelling for Lawyers”, Tallahassee Bar Association (2017)
- Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section “Teachers’ Law Symposium”, Mock Trial (2018, 2019, 2022).
- “Board Certification”, Tallahassee Bar Association (2018)
- “The Science of Jury Selection”, Tallahassee Bar Association; First District Court of Appeal (2018)
- “Sealing and Expunging”, A Peaceful Protester’s Journey Through the System, Tallahassee Bar Association (2020)
- “Ethically Doing Your Job While Keeping Your Job”, Paralegal Association of Florida (2021)
- “How Jurors Decide”, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Tallahassee Chapter Closing Argument seminar (2021)
- “Jury Instructions: The Keys to the Kingdom”, Paralegal Association of Florida (2022)
- Second International Congress on Cross-Examination, Mexico City (2025)
- Editor, The Complete Trial Lawyer’s Success System, eLEX Legal Publishers (2026)
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, Advanced Advocacy (LLM program) (Fall 2019 – present)
- “Presentation of Defense Evidence” and “Concluding the Trial,” The Criminal Defense Trial from Start to Finish, NBI, October 2006
- “Criminal Appeals,” Appellate Practice for the General Practitioner in Florida, for Lorman, November 2006
- “Evidence in a Criminal Trial”, Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner in Florida for Lorman, August 2007
- “Preparing for Oral Argument”, Florida State University College of Law Research and Writing Department, March 2009
- “Defending DUI Cases”, The Florida Bar Basic Criminal Law Seminar, January 2009
- “Criminal Appeals: Bridging the Gap From Trial to Appeal”, Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, April 2010
- “DUI: Drinking, Driving, and Your Career”, Stetson University College of Law, March 2010
- “So, Your Client Has Been Arrested . . . “, Carrollwood Community Bar Association, May 2010
- “The Basics of Criminal Representation”, The Florida Bar Basic Criminal Law Seminar, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014
- “Ethics in Criminal Cases,” 3-part CLE, Stetson University College of Law Advocacy Resource Center, September 2010
- “Defense of Pill Mill Cases”, Stetson College of Law’s “Law School for Physicians,” March 2011
- “Handling the First DUI Cases”, Law Review CLE, April 2011, 2011 – Present
- “Criminal Appeals: Bridging the Gap From Trial to Appeal”, Hillsborough County Public Defenders Office, April 2011
- “Defense of Pill Mill Cases”, Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians Annual Meeting, May 2011
- “Practicing with Professionalism”, Pinellas County Bar Association, March 2012
- Panelist, “White Collar Crime College”, Stetson University College of Law/NACDL, 2012, 2013, 2014
- “Bodiford’s 5 Rs of Case Analysis”, Public Defender’s Office, Second Circuit, 2014
- Lecturer, “Opening Statements”, “Objections”, FSU Mock Trial Team, 2015 – 2017
- Lecturer, “Cross Examination, Opening Statements, FSU PAD Trial Team, Fall 2015
- Lecturer, “Jury Selection” and “Juvenile Law”, FSU College of Law classes, Spring 2016, 2017
- Trial Team – Coach/Evaluator/Lecturer, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Co-director of the FSU COL Trial Team and coach, Florida State University College of Law, Spring, August 1, 2015 – May 30, 2017
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Cross Examination, Florida State University College of Law, August 1, 2015 – May 30, 2017
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Legal Drafting, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, 2009
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Trial Advocacy, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, 2010 – 2014
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Florida Criminal Procedure, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, 2010 – present
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Advanced Advocacy, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, 2019 – present
- Contributor, Hillsborough County Bar Association Magazine
- Florida Evidence: 1995 Courtroom Manual (credited therein as research assistant to Prof. William Eleazer)
- “The 3:32am Sleepy Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Guide to Answering the 24/7 Line,” The Defender (Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), April 2009
- “Beware of what you BLAWG: The case of the Bench, the Blawg, the Bar, the Barrister,” The Defender (Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), October 2009
- Update Editor, Florida Traffic and DUI Practice Manual, Matthew Bender/LEXIS Publishing (2002 – 2016)
- Author, Chapter 22: “White Collar Crimes”; Business Litigation in Florida, Florida Bar CLE Manual (all editions, 2001 – 2014)
- Author, Chapter entitled “DUI Discovery and DUI Trial Advocacy”, Trends in DUI Discovery, Aspatore Books (2014)
- Author, Chapter entitled “Cross-Examination in DUI Trial Advocacy”, Witness Preparation and Examination for DUI Proceedings, Aspatore Books (2015)
- Author, A Short & Happy Guide to Trial Advocacy (publication expected Fall 2023)
- Author, Florida Criminal Cases Notebook (James Publishing)
- Author, Cross Examination In a Nutshell (West Academic)
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, Survey of Florida Law (Florida Criminal Procedure, Premises Liability)
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, Legal Drafting (Fall 2009)
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, Trial Advocacy (Spring 2010 – Spring 2014)
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, Florida Criminal Procedure (2012 – 2019)
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, Advanced Cross Examination (J.D. program) (2020 – present)
- Cross Examination in a Nutshell is a new approach to an age-old skill. Focusing on incorporating storytelling and persuasion, it presents techniques for preparing, structuring, and delivering effective cross-examinations in every setting. Cross Examination in a Nutshell departs from the old ways, and presents a new thought process for making cross-examination as much a part of telling your story as opening and closing arguments. The techniques for controlling the narrative, the witness, and your opponent are perfect for every advocate, from the law student to the most seasoned practitioner., Author, Cross Examination in a Nutshell, West Academic, 2018
- The best single source for Florida criminal law citations. Quickly find your on-point case with over 8,000 annotations and citations of cases covering the full panoply of Florida criminal law. Compiled and summarized by one of the leading criminal specialists in the state., Author, Florida Criminal Cases Notebook, James Publishing, 2018
Honors
- AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Tampa Bay’s Top Lawyers (Criminal Defense), Tampa Bay Magazine (2010, 2012)
- Recognized by the Florida Genealogical Society as the descendant of a Florida pioneer
- 850 Magazine Top Lawyer (Criminal Law), 2014
- The National Trial Lawyers “Top 100 Trial Lawyers”
- American Society of Legal Advocates “Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys in Florida”, 2013
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, 2008 – present
- AVVO rated 10 (“Superb”); Recipient of “Client’s Choice” (2012 – present)
- Florida Super Lawyer (2008, 2009, 2019, 2020 – present)
- Florida Trend’s Legal Elite (2012 – present)
Office location for Joseph C. Bodiford
2019 Centre Pointe Blvd
Suite 102
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: 850-739-0019
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2009, 2019 - 2025
Certificates and credentials
Criminal Trial
