About Julia
Julia Kefalinos began her academic path at New York University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in 1986 studying journalism and Spanish literature. She went on to law school at American University Washington College of Law, earning her J.D. in 1990 after several years of study in litigation. The combination of reporting and legal training shaped an approach that values clear advocacy and careful record-keeping.
Her first legal role came in public defense. In 1991 she joined the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office as an assistant public defender. There she handled a heavy trial docket, managed client interviews, prepared motions and tried cases in state court. The work was daily and exacting. It also provided extended courtroom experience and regular exposure to the practical pressures of criminal practice.
After her time in the public defender’s office, Kefalinos moved into private practice. She established the Law Office of Julia Kefalinos, P.A., where she built a practice that spans both criminal defense and consumer bankruptcy matters. She is admitted to practice in Florida and is authorized to appear before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the Federal Circuit. Those admissions allow her to handle appeals as well as trial-level representation.
Kefalinos maintains active memberships in several professional organizations. She holds a lifetime membership in the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is a current member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Her practice areas intersect with consumer bankruptcy, and she is a member of both the Bankruptcy Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers. Those affiliations reflect the dual nature of her caseload and provide regular professional contacts and continuing legal education.
Her caseload typically includes criminal defense matters at the state level and consumer bankruptcy work that involves client counseling, filing and representation in court. She handles pretrial motions, plea negotiations, bench and jury trials, and appellate briefs when cases progress beyond the trial court. The mix of trial and bankruptcy work has required attention to procedure and an ability to switch between different kinds of advocacy.
Kefalinos continues to practice from her firm in Florida. Her current practice concentrates on criminal defense and consumer bankruptcy matters.
