Joe Bodiford

Biography Overview

Joe Bodiford is a Tallahassee native and a sixth-generation Floridian. He has been a trial lawyer for 28 years, having tried over 100 jury trials to verdict.  Joe is a certified Advocate by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Florida Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyers, and is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Joe is AV* rated (the highest) by national lawyer rating service Martindale-Hubbell, and is perennially chosen as a Florida “SuperLawyer” and one of Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite” based on voting by other attorneys.

Joe is a long-time adjunct professor of law at Stetson University College of Law, where he teaches Advanced Advocacy in the prestigious Advocacy LL.M. program. He also teaches Cross-Examination and has taught Premises Liability, Florida Criminal Procedure, and Trial Advocacy in the J.D. program. He was also an adjunct professor at Florida State University College of Law, where he taught Cross-Examination and was also the co-director of the Trial Team (which won three national competitions under his leadership).

Joe is the author of "A Short & Happy Guide to Trial Advocacy" and "Cross Examination in a Nutshell" (both by West Academic), and the owner of eLEX Publishers (publishers of summary evidence and procedure guides for Federal and 22 states).

Joe has served as President of the Tallahassee Bar Association and was a Director for many years. He is also an alumni member of the Stafford Inn of Court. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.  You may have seen him on WCTV as their legal analyst, covering big trials and important legal issues in Leon County.