Joe Easton focuses his practice almost entirely on DUI defense. Before fighting for the rights of those accused of DUIs in Central Florida, Joe Easton was a prominent DUI lawyer in Wisconsin for over 13 years, where he was renowned for his fearless advocacy and unique approaches to DUI cases. Mr. Easton achieved acclaim as a drunk driving attorney by his novel DUI trial strategies, earning him success at every stage, including DMV hearings, obtaining full acquittals at trial and getting courts to grant his clients new trials on appeal. Attorney Easton’s successful defense of his DUI clients has earned him the respect of other practitioners, prosecutors, and judges and he was named a “Rising Star” by the prestigious “SuperLawyers” rating service for lawyers who have attained outstanding peer recognition and professional achievement. Joe Easton has a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo and was named recently a “Ten Best” Florida DUI Attorney by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys in 2017. He is also a member of the National College of DUI Defense and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
Joel Leppard is the founder of Leppard Law, an Orlando, Florida DUI criminal defense law firm that provides each client with the resources of a large firm but with the personal attention and skillful representations that only a small firm can provide. Joel Leppard has passionately defended thousands of Central Florida residents who have been accused of crimes, including hundreds of DUIs, ranging from first time DUIs, felony DUIs to DUI manslaughters. Attorney Leppard is also the author of the DUI guide entitled “The Florida Guide to DUI Defense.” Attorney Leppard has received numerous accolades, including being selected as one of Expertise’s 2016 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Orlando, receiving the Avvo DUI Client’s Choice Award in both 2015 and 2016. He was elected to the prestigious National College of DUI Defense in 2015 and is ranked nationally as a “Top 40 Under 40” trial lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association and is rated a perfect 10.0 by Avvo. In both 2016 and 2017, Leppard Law was ranked as the “Best of Yelp” Orlando DUI law firm and Mr. Leppard is ranked as the #1 Best DUI Attorney in Orlando by Best DWI Attorneys, the leading national DUI consumer rating service.
Attorney Leppard has received numerous accolades, including being selected as one of Expertise’s 2016 Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Orlando, receiving the Avvo DUI Client’s Choice Award in both 2015 and 2016. He was elected to the prestigious National College of DUI Defense in 2015 and is ranked nationally as a “Top 40 Under 40” trial lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association and is rated a perfect 10.0 by Avvo. In both 2016 and 2017, Leppard Law was ranked as the “Best of Yelp” Orlando DUI law firm and Mr. Leppard is ranked as the #1 Best DUI Attorney in Orlando by Best DWI Attorneys, the leading national DUI consumer rating service.
A skilled trial attorney, Mr. Leppard has served as counsel in over 50 trials, hundreds of contested hearings in numerous thousands of court cases. During trial, he is known for his extensive knowledge of the laws of evidence and fervent advocacy for his clients. While many lawyers try to resolve as many cases as soon as possible, Joel Leppard exhausts every possible avenue for his clients and is also well-known for his skillful use of pretrial motions to either get cases dismissed or to secure an advantageous plea deal.
Joel Leppard graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a B.S. in political science and a business minor. He attended law school at Florida State University, where he earned a coveted position as an Editor on the prestigious Florida State Law Review and graduated magna cum laude. Mr. Leppard was selected for the elite Order of the Coif, reserved for the top 10 percent of law graduates from the nation’s top law schools.
Prior to the practice of law, Mr. Leppard taught high school economics, law studies and humanities at Timber Creek High School in Orlando. At Timber Creek High, Mr. Leppard founded the charter chapter of the Future Lawyers of America and was named “Favorite Teacher” by the senior class. Mr. Leppard is a long-time Florida resident, moving to Orlando with his family in 1990. In his spare time, Mr. Leppard is an avid music aficionado.
Bar Admissions
| State | Status | Acquired |
| State of Florida | Member | 2010 |
| State of Texas | Inactive Member | 2013 |
| Middle District of Florida | Member | 2015 |
Awards
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
| #1 Best Orlando DUI Attorney | Best DWI Attorneys | 2016-present |
| Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Orlando | Expertise | 2016-2018 |
| Client’s Choice Award 2016 | Avvo | 2016 |
| #1 “Best Orlando Law Firms” | Yelp | 2016 & 2017 |
| Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Orlando | Expertise | 2016 |
| Client’s Choice Award | Avvo | 2016 |
| Superb Attorney | Avvo | 2016 |
| Top 40 Under 40 | National Trial Lawyers | 2016 |
| #1 Best Orlando DUI Attorney | Best DWI Attorneys | 2016 |
| “Superb Attorney” | Avvo | 2016 |
| Client’s Choice Award 2015 | Avvo | 2015 |
| Notable Person 2015 | Notable Today | 2015 |
| Top Mental Health Attorney | PD Social Services | 2014 |
| Book Award, Health Law | Florida State University College of Law | 2010 |
| Articles Selection Editor | Florida State University, Law Review | 2010 |
| Member | Order of the Coif | 2010 |
| Magna Cum Laude Graduate | Florida State University, College of Law | 2010 |
| Articles Selection Editor / Editorial Board | Florida State University | 2009 |
| Book Award, Commercial Law | Florida State University College of Law | 2009 |
| Law Review Member | Florida State University Law Review | 2008 |
| Favorite Teacher | Timber Creek High School | 2007 |
| Cum Laude Graduate | University of Florida | 2004 |
| Most Talented | University High School | 1999 |
Work Experience
| Title | Company name | Duration |
| Managing Attorney | Leppard Law, PLLC | 2014 – Present |
| Chief Legal Officer | Blackwood International | 2014 – 2016 |
| Assistant Public Defender | Office of the Public Defender, 9th Judicial Circuit | 2011 – 2015 |
| Corporate Counsel | Digital Risk | 2010 – 2011 |
| LSAT Instructor | Law School Entrance Exam Tutoring | 2010 – 2011 |
| Law Clerk | Eubanks, Barrett, Fasig & Brooks | 2009 – 2010 |
| Law Studies & Economics Instructor | Timber Creek High School | 2004 – 2007 |
Associations
| Association name | Position name | Duration |
| U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida | Member | 2015 – Present |
| Florida Justice Association | Member | 2015 – Present |
| UCF Intramural Moot Court Team | Judge | 2015 – 2015 |
| National College of DUI Defense | Member | 2015 – Present |
| Blackwood International, LLC | Board Member | 2014 – 2015 |
| Avidelity, LLC | Board of Directors | 2014 – Present |
| Orange County Bar Association | Member | 2014 – Present |
| State Bar of Texas | Inactive Member | 2013 – Present |
| Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member | 2013 – Present |
| Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member | 2010 – Present |
| Florida Bar | Member | 2010 – Present |
| Sustainability International | Board of Directors | 2010 – Present |
| Florida State University Law Review | Articles Selection Editor | 2009 – 2010 |
| Florida State University Law Review | Member | 2008 – 2010 |
| Students Against Genocide | Founder | 2006 – 2007 |
| Future Lawyers of America | Founder | 2006 – 2007 |
| University of Florida Student Senate | Chairperson | 2002 – 2003 |
| Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society | President | 2002 – 2003 |
| University of Florida Student Senate | Senator | 2002 – 2003 |
| Southern Scholarship Foundation | Judiciary Board Member | 2000 – 2002 |
| Speech & Debate Team | Member | 2000 – 2001 |
