About Michael Ray
Michael Ray Goodson studied extensively at the University of Florida, collecting degrees across several disciplines. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Instrumental Performance) in 2009, followed by a Master of Arts in Music (Instrumental Performance) in 2011. He completed his Juris Doctor in 2014 and later pursued an MBA in Business Administration, listed as pending in 2018. The combination of arts, social science and law shaped a different perspective on legal practice.
Goodson began his legal career in public service. In 2014 he served as an Assistant State Lawyer in the Office of the State Lawyer for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. That post placed him in court regularly. He handled motions, appeared at hearings and carried cases through trial preparation. The work exposed him to the practical pressures of courtroom schedules and the procedural demands of state practice.
After his time with the state office he transitioned into private practice. He joined Anchors Smith Grimsley, PLC, taking the skills he developed as a prosecutor into a firm setting. At the firm he took on matters that required litigation experience and attention to procedural detail. Colleagues and clients encounter a lawyer who knows the rhythm of court proceedings and can respond where timing matters.
Goodson’s earlier training in music and psychology informs his approach to client work. Music performance trained him in discipline, practice and presence under observation. Psychology gave him tools for assessing witness testimony and client concerns. In law those elements come together around case preparation, witness examination and crafting persuasive arguments.
He writes and reviews pleadings, prepares witnesses for testimony and engages in the sort of legal writing that supports courtroom strategy. His background in both public prosecution and firm practice means he often handles tasks that bridge case theory and courtroom application. He keeps litigation timelines and evidentiary rules central when building a file.
He is licensed to practice in Florida and currently works at Anchors Smith Grimsley, PLC. He now concentrates his practice on courtroom litigation and trial work in Florida.
