FRANK W. McDERMOTT, ESQUIRE
BOARD CERTIFIED ATTORNEY

Principle Owner & Director, McDermott Law Firm, P.A.

Mr. McDermott received his Board Certification in August of 2011 after 12 years of practice. He is now considered by the Florida Bar to be a specialist in Criminal Trial Law. Very few attorneys have achieved this status.

  • Highest Attorney Rating (AV®)-Martindale Hubbell Member

  • Member Florida Bar, Member St. Petersburg Bar.

  • Three time Chair of Criminal Law Section.

Education

  • 1998 — Degree of Law (J.D.) Stetson University College of Law. With Honors (Cum Laude). With Awards.

  • 1992 — Business Degree (Marketing) University of Florida.

Life Experience

  • 1992-1996 — Field Account Manager Nestlé Food Company.

  • 1986-1990 — United States Air Force.  Non Commissioned Officer.

Legal Experience

  • 1998-Present — Private Practice. Member McDermott Law Firm, P.A.  Frank has worked on over 5,000 criminal cases.  This work includes pretrial motions, research, and plea negotiations.  Experienced in the handling of criminal jury trials.  Admitted to practice in all Florida State Courts as well as the U.S. Middle District Court, Tampa, Florida. Frank is devoted to representing clients in the area of personal injury law & criminal defense in St. Petersburg, Seminole, Pinellas County and all the way up Florida’s Nature Coast to Cedar key.

  • 1996-1998 — Legal Intern Joseph F. McDermott, Esquire. Worked with veteran attorney on various felony cases including murder, rape, arson, burglary, and drug cases. Sat in on a total of ten trials and assisted in the preparation and research of over 50 criminal cases as an intern. In addition to working on felony cases, worked with attorney handling research and writing motions for DUI, DWI, traffic, and other various misdemeanor cases.

  • 1997 — Pinellas County Public Defender’s Office, Legal Intern. Participated in a clinic where law students represent clients who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Recipient of the Paul Barnard Ace Award for outstanding achievement.

Recognition and Organizations

  • Awarded an “AV®” rating by Martindale-Hubbell. An “AV®” rating by Martindale-Hubbell reflects an attorney who has reached the heights of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest level of skill, integrity, and ethical standards. McDermott Law Firm enjoys an “AV®” rating as a result of Mr. Frank McDermott’s “AV®” rating.

  • 2017 — Vice President of Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association

  • 2015 — President of Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association

  • 1998 — Recipient of J.D. Degree (With Honors and Awards) Stetson University College of Law.

  • 1997 — Awarded the Paul Barnard Ace Award for outstanding representation of clients at the Public Defender Clinic, Public Defender’s Office, Pinellas County, Florida.

  • 1997 — Awarded Certificate of Merit in recognition of service to the community by participation in the Public Defender Clinic, Public Defender’s Office, Pinellas County, Florida.

  • Member St. Petersburg Bar Association. Frank is active in the local Bar Association. Three time Chair of Criminal Law Section. Member of Small Firm Section, Young Lawyers Section, Law Week Committee, and the Trial Section.

  • Member Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

  • Member Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

  • Board of Director Member 2013-2020.

  • Member Florida Bar.

  • 1990 — Distinguished Graduate Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education for outstanding achievement.

  • 1987 — Honor Graduate Air Force Technical School. Certificate of Achievement.