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Top Rated Lawyers
National DUI Defense
AV Preeminent 2023
Client Champion 2023 Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent Rated(Martindale-Hubbell)2015
AV Preeminent Rated(Martindale-Hubbell) 2015 - present
American Instituteof Criminal Law Attorneys2017
American Instituteof Criminal Law Attorneys 2017
AV Preeminent Legal Leaders2018
AV Preeminent Legal Leaders 2018
AVVO Clients' Choice Award 2019
AVVO Clients' Choice Award 2019

Steven Bell

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Steven Kenneth Bell, Esquire graduated from the University of Florida in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Advertising. Immediately after graduation, Mr. Bell matriculated into law school at Nova Southeastern University’s Sheppard Broad Law Center. In 2004, Mr. Bell earned his Juris Doctor and graduated Magna Cum Laude, an achievement of one the highest honors reserved for law students graduating in the top 3 percent of the graduating class. While in law school, Mr. Bell eagerly began his path toward defending those accused of crimes. He later worked as a Supreme Court Certified Legal Intern with the Broward County Public Defender’s Office, which allowed him to try both felony and misdemeanor trials before ever becoming a member of the Florida Bar.

Mr. Bell was also one of a select few elite law students elected to Nova Southeastern University Law Review and was also recognized by becoming published in the field of criminal law before ever becoming a lawyer. Upon his graduation from law school, Mr. Bell was given the honor of becoming a member of the Order of Barristers, an honor given only to nine members of his graduating class.

Upon his legal internship with the Broward Public Defender’s Office ending, Mr. Bell was hired as an Assistant Public Defender in Broward County based upon his trial work and skills exhibited during his legal internship. He was awarded for his outstanding work and litigation as a certified legal intern by the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. As an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Bell vigorously defended and tried hundreds of cases ranging from simple misdemeanors such as DUI, Trespass, and Battery to the most complex and severe felony cases.

Mr. Bell quickly rose through the ranks of the Broward County Public Defender’s Office and was promoted to Felony Public Defender in the Circuit Court within one year of being hired. He became a lead Assistant Public Defender in more than one Felony division and was assigned to the most dangerous offenders. Mr. Bell was again promoted based upon his trial skills, knowledge of the law, and reputation with his office to Assistant Public Defender in charge of the Juvenile Division, one of the youngest lawyers ever to be promoted to such a position. Mr. Bell entered private practice in 2007. Since that time, Mr. Bell has defended thousands of people accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses throughout the entire State of Florida.

In 2008, Mr. Bell was hired to run the entire legal operation of The Ticket Clinic, A Law Firm in Palm Beach County. As lead attorney for that office, Mr. Bell handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from the most simple traffic matters to felonies punishable by life in Florida State Prison. During his time with the firm, Mr. Bell tried countless DUI cases through verdict as lead trial counsel. Throughout his career, Mr. Bell has addressed every legal issue surrounding DUI and traffic offenses and was able to use certain strategies learned as an Assistant Public Defender against the State to have non-DUI-related felonies and misdemeanors dismissed.

Mr. Bell’s position with The Ticket Clinic, A Law Firm required his dedication to defending DUI clients throughout the State of Florida. While working for the firm, Mr. Bell represented clients in the following counties: Broward, Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, Duval, Volusia, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Marion, Alachua, Flagler, Escambia, Holmes, Leon, Highlands, and Hendry County.

In 2005, Mr. Bell first met his law partner, Lawrence Meltzer, who was an Assistant State Attorney assigned to the very same courtroom while still employed as an Assistant Public Defender. After trying cases against one another, Mr. Bell and Mr. Meltzer’s respect for one another grew based on each other’s trial skill, reliability, work ethic, and overall professionalism. It became clear that each had a shared vision of what a lawyer, and a law firm, should be. Thus, ultimately, the law firm of Meltzer & Bell, P.A. was born.

Our goal at the law firm of Meltzer & Bell, P.A. is to provide clients with the highest quality of legal defense. We achieve this through being the most prepared legal counsel in the courtroom, keeping an open line of communication 24 hours per day and seven days a week with our clients, and helping each client navigate their way through the minefield of the criminal justice system while maintaining the highest ethical standards.

Mr. Bell has worked with independent experts on subjects ranging from forensic toxicology to traffic accident reconstruction when personally handling DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide cases. Developing this type of evidence can be crucial to building the best strongest defense possible to these severe charges.

Steven Bell has been featured on Cop Talk Radio, Seaview Radio, Sirus XM Radio, News Channel 25, the Sun-Sentinel, New York Daily News and the Palm Beach Post in regard to criminal law. He also was selected as a rising star by SuperLawyers for 2012, 2013, and 2014 and a Super Lawyer in 2015 to 2018. He also is AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell from 2013 to 2018.

Additionally, Mr. Bell was invited and selected to the membership of the National Advocacy for DUI Defense in 2013 and awarded for his outstanding DUI defense work as one of the Top 100 DUI lawyers in his geographic region for that year and 2015. Mr. Bell looks forward to representing anyone accused of DUI or any criminal offense, and he is available 24/7 for a free consultation. Steven Bell, Esq. has been interviewed regarding DUI issues in Palm Beach County due to his experience by USA Today and WPTV and has provided input regarding the same on the arrest and charges stemming from Golfer Tiger Wood’s for Driving Under the Influence.

As a final note, Mr. Bell has worked with independent experts on subjects ranging from forensic toxicology to traffic accident reconstruction when personally handling DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide cases. Developing this type of evidence can be crucial to building the best strongest defense possible to these severe charges. In addition to specializing in DUI defense, Mr. Bell has extensive knowledge and experience in handling violent crimes, drug trafficking offenses, and Domestic Violence matters. He has represented countless defendants on State and Federal Drug Trafficking Offenses and Violent Crime Allegations ranging from Burglary with Assault and Battery to Homicide.

AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2015 – present
Peer Rated for Highest Level of
Professional Excellence

 

EDUCATION

  • University of Florida, Bachelor of Arts in Advertising, 2001
  • Nova Southeastern University’s Sheppard Broad Law Center, Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, 2004

MEMBERSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • The National College for DUI Defense
  • DUI Defense Lawyers Association
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Lifetime Member
  • Federal Bar, Southern District
  • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2015
  • NORML Lifetime Member
  • Palm Beach Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers
    • Member, Judicial Committee

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Broward County Public Defender, Certified Legal Intern, 2003
  • Broward County Public Defender, 2004-2007
    • Managing Supervisor of Juvenile Division
  • Ruiz, Bell, Clayman, LLC, Partner, 2007-2008
  • The Ticket Clinic, A Law Firm, 2008-2013

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • Top 100 DUI Attorneys by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense, 2013
  • Client’s Choice by Avvo in the DUI category, 2013
  • AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubble, 2015 – present
  • Selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Selected as a Super Lawyer, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020
515 N Flagler Dr #240
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
110 SE 6th St Suite 1749
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
1 SE Ocean Boulevard
Stuart, FL 34994
18851 NE 29th Ave #750
Aventura, FL 33180
211 S 2nd St
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
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