Andrew Matthew Coffey
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Practice Areas:
- Criminal Law
- Litigation & Appeals
- Domestic Violence
- Mental Health
- DUI's
- Drug Trafficking
- Murder
Certified Legal Specialties:
- Board Certified Criminal Trial Law Specialist, Florida Bar
Professional Associations
- Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
Biography
Andrew is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Law Specialist. He is one of only 330 criminal attorneys in all of Florida to be designated as a Board Certified Criminal Attorney. Andrew has tried more than one hundred jury trials ranging from possession of marijuana to murder cases. Andrew's specialties are drug offenses, crimes against persons and property, domestic violence, DUI's and juvenile law. Andrew was recently named one of Florida 's Super Lawyers by Law and Politics magazine. Attorneys are selected for this honor through an extensive process of balloting, blue ribbon panel review and independent research. Only 5% of the attorneys in Florida have been selected as Florida Super Lawyers (see link at superlawyers.com). Andrew graduated on the Dean's List from the Emory University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1993. Following his undergraduate degree, Andrew graduated Cum Laude from Nova Southeastern University in 1996. While in law school, he was awarded a Goodwin Fellowship which allowed him to author a comprehensive history of Florida 's juvenile pre-adjudication process. This published booklet is still used today in local colleges as a teaching guide in juvenile law courses. Most recently, Andrew helped co-create a Juvenile Justice Course for Nova Southeastern University 's Criminal Justice Institute. This graduate level course is currently being offered on-line and Andrew has been a guest lecturer for this course. After law school, Andrew clerked at a local prestigious law firm and then joined the Broward County Public Defender's Office. While employed there, Andrew represented a wide variety of clients whose charges ranged from First Degree Murder to juvenile offenders. Andrew became a Supervising Lead Attorney and assisted both new attorneys and law school interns in their training and development. He also participated in the bi-annual Police Academy 's Mock Trial Day by conducting depositions. Most recently, Andrew has guest lectured at law school classes at St. Thomas Law School and Graduate courses at Nova Southeastern University. Andrew is also actively involved in the community and he lends his time to the Florida Cleft-Palate Craniofacial Association by volunteering at their annual camp. He is also a member of the Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Andrew is involved with the Broward Chapter of the Autism Society of America, and on the Advisory Board for Autism on the Seas.
Andrew is respected by his peers because of his professionalism, ethics, and his knowledge of the law. Andrew's employment background, coupled with his education and achievements, have provided him with a broad range of experience that make him a uniquely qualified member of this firm.
Past Positions
- Broward County Public Defender's Office, Assistant Public Defender, 1996 to 2002
- Bogenschutz & Dutko, P.A., Law Clerk, 1995 to 1996
Education
- Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
- Juris Doctorate - 01/1996
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: Top 20%
- Honors: Dean's List: Fall 1994, Winter & Fall, 1995
- Honors: Goodwin Fellowship
- Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
- Bachelor of Arts - 05/1993
- Honors: Dean's list: Fall 1990, Fall 1992, Winter 1993
- Major: History
Bar Admissions
- Florida, 1996
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1999
- Southern District of Florida Trial Bar, 1999
Classes & Seminars
- Lecturer, St. Thomas Law School & Nova Southeastern University
Fraternities or Sororities
- Beta Theta Pi
Pro-Bono Activities
- Autism on the Seas, Advisory Board Member