Sandefer Law Firm Overview

Larry Sandefer - Criminal Defense Attorney & DUI Defense Trial Attorney
Proudly Serving Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay and the State of Florida

Larry Sandefer, P.A.

Later known as the Sandefer Law Firm, was first established in 1991. From 1978 to 1986, Larry Sandefer was a prosecutor in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, Florida. While there, he was elevated to the positions of Lead Trial Attorney and Division Director.  In those positions he supervised trial attorneys in several felony and misdemeanor Court divisions and made decisions regarding active cases.  He also tried major cases including homicides, sexual batteries, drug trafficking, and all other types of felonies and misdemeanors. He served on the homicide response team.  After leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Sandefer served in private practice with a well established law firm before opening his own office in 1991.

Sandefer Law Firm concentrates on criminal defense matters as well as DUI defense. Criminal matters include DUI, DUI manslaughter, homicide, drug trafficking, drug sale and possession, sexual battery, sex crimes, Internet crimes, pornography, theft, burglary, conspiracy, elder abuse, child abuse, consumer crimes and consumer fraud, domestic violence, organized crime, weapons offenses, 10/20 life, retail theft, and all types of felonies and misdemeanors, including applications for sealing records, probation violations,  juvenile crime, and termination of probation.

Background

Larry Sandefer’s experience is varied. Throughout his life, he has consistently been honored with leadership positions. He was named one of the outstanding high school graduates in Florida in 1968. While in college at Auburn University in Alabama, he was selected for the National Leadership Honorary Fraternity Omicron Delta Kappa. He was treasurer of his business fraternity as well as treasurer and president of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Also, while at Auburn, he was named the Assistant Director of Auburn Free University. He was a four year starter on the varsity tennis team and was active in ROTC (USAF). He graduated receiving his Bachelor of Science in business and management in 1972.

Between college and law school, Larry Sandefer was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force serving as a Procurement Officer on active duty at K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the upper peninsula of Michigan. While there, he was assigned to investigate irregularities in the career innovation program of the 410th transportation squadron leading an investigation of military personnel. While in the Air Force, Larry Sandefer also was a radio announcer at an cable radio station where he was music director. He attended the Air Force Institute of Technology Contract Law School in Denver Colorado.  He left active duty as a First Lieutenant serving briefly as a reserve.


Larry Sandefer then attended law school at the University of Florida where he was elected President of the Legal Fraternity Phi Delta Phi. He was named as Honor Court Defense Counsel and later Honor Court Chief Defense Counsel, given the duty of defending students charged with violation of University policies and/or cheating. Finally, while in law school he named one of three Student Supreme Court Justices at the University of Florida.  In that position he heard appeals and decided cases regarding sstudent  government elections student government issues.

Larry Sandefer’s legal career began as an Assistant State Attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit under James T. Russell, State Attorney. He served in that position for over eight years, serving as a Lead Trial Attorney supervising other felony trial attorneys. He then was appointed as one of three Division Directors responsible for major cases and training and supervising felony and misdemeanor divisions.

Continuing Legal Education/Certification

Mr. Sandefer has continued to educate himself and stay abreast of the latest legal developments. He was one of the first attorneys in the State of Florida,and the first in the Sixth Judicial Circuit of  Florida (Pinellas and Pasco Counties) to become Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law in 1987 and has maintained that certification since that date. He was the only attorney in the Sixth Circuit to be honored at the Florida Bar Convention 2012 by the Board of Legal Specialization and Education for being Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law for over 25 years.  Board certification standards require a rigorous examination and the experience of being the lead attorney on a large number of felony trials. It also involves the evaluation and rating by both fellow attorneys and judges. These reviews, standards, and evaluations must be maintained to continue Board Certification. Mr. Sandefer has maintained those standards and certification for over 20 years.

Larry Sandefer has attended and continues to attend numerous seminars and educational retreats throughout Florida and the United States including the following programs:

• Prosecution of violent crime - National College of District Attorneys
• Organized crime - National College of District Attorneys
• Use of experts at trial
• Obscenity, I Know It When I See It - Florida Bar
• Search Warrants
• Top Gun Criminal Defense Seminar 1992, 1993, 1995
• Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Computer Sex Crimes -
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Polygraphs
• Trial tactics
• Sentencing guidelines
• Domestic violence
• Obscenity
• Life Over Death Seminars
• DUI continuing education
  • Strategies in DUI cases - Florida Bar
  • Masters of DUI Conferences
  • Intoxilyzer 5000 & Intoxilyzer 8000 seminars
  • Blood, Breath, and Tears - Florida Bar
  • Winning with DUI - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Las Vegas
  • DUI - Defending with Ingenuity - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Las Vegas

Larry Sandefer's Attorney Profile