When you face a criminal charge in Miami-Dade County, you want to know who actually stands beside you in court. Not just a name on a website, but the person who will read your file, hear your story, and guide you through the process. That person, for every case at Beckham Law Firm, is attorney Justin K. Beckham.
In the short video below, Justin introduces himself in his own words. You’ll hear how he grew up in a Miami legal family, why he chose criminal defense, and how he leads our trial team today.
Meet The Attorney Who Touches Every Case
Justin opens the video with a clear statement: “My name is Justin Beckham and I'm the owner of the Beckham Law Firm.” From there, he explains something many clients find reassuring: “I handle every case at some point in time. So every single file, every single client that comes in here, my hands are on it at some point in time.”
That hands-on approach reflects how we work as a firm. Since 2002, Justin has practiced only criminal defense in Miami-Dade County. After earning the highest award in the University of Miami Moot Court program during law school, he joined the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office. There, he defended thousands of people in Juvenile, Misdemeanor, & Felony courts and took nearly 50 cases to trial, earning several acquittals along the way.
In 2006, he started his own law practice focused on criminal cases. Today, he leads Beckham Law Firm with the same trial-driven mindset he developed as a public defender: know the law, know the courts, know the people involved, and be fully prepared to stand up in front of a jury.
Fourth-Generation Miami Roots & A Lifelong Calling
In the video, Justin shares the story that shapes much of who he is as a lawyer: “I'm a fourth generation Miami lawyer.” His great-grandfather served as one of the first Juvenile Judges in Miami. His grandfather, Walter H. Beckham Jr., built a career as a trial lawyer, became a Professor Emeritus at the University of Miami School of Law, and served as President of the National Judicial College. His father, James K. Beckham, practices personal injury law in Homestead.
For Justin, this history is more than a résumé line. As he puts it, “It was a great family tradition for me to fall into and to follow. So I always did feel compelled to become an attorney.” That sense of calling shows in how he talks about his work. He doesn’t describe criminal defense as a stop along the way. He speaks about it as something he “always loved,” starting with his first job as a public defender and continuing through his own practice.
This deep Miami background also connects directly to our firm’s focus. We practice criminal defense in one place: Miami-Dade County. Justin’s roots in the local courts stretch back generations, and that perspective shapes how we see every case that comes through our doors.
Why He Chose Criminal Defense & Built A Team
When Justin talks about his early career, he doesn’t focus on titles. He talks about people. “I always loved criminal defense. I was a public defender originally, that was my first job.” He realized early on that standing between an accused person and the power of the government was the work he wanted to do long term.
That passion led him to open his own criminal law practice and, over time, to grow it into the firm we are today. As he explains in the video, “I handle every case at some point in time… but I also coordinate a team of attorneys I've handpicked over the years, and that I've been lucky enough to have them join me.”
This is not a firm where lawyers barely know each other or where cases drift from one desk to another. Justin has spent years choosing attorneys who share a commitment to criminal defense in Miami-Dade County. Together, we bring different viewpoints to each file, talk through strategies, & focus on what the client needs right now and down the line.
Justin sums up his philosophy this way: “I really believe that if we're trying to achieve the best results for the clients, the best results are achieved by a team of attorneys.” He adds that we “achieve better results than I could by myself if I was a sole practitioner.” That belief drives the way we prepare cases, whether they involve DUI, drug charges, or complex felonies.
Born & Raised In Miami, Speaking Your Language
Justin doesn’t just practice in Miami-Dade; he grew up here. In the video, he explains, “The idea was always to represent people here in Miami because like I said, I'm born and raised here, and all the attorneys that I work with are also born and raised here.”
That shared background matters. We know the neighborhoods, the courthouse rhythms, and the local culture. We see our clients as neighbors and community members, not case numbers.
Language plays a big role in that connection. Justin is fully fluent in written & spoken Spanish. As he puts it, “We also pride ourselves in speaking Spanish every day to all of our clients.” For many people, explaining what happened and what they fear most feels easier in their first language. Justin and our team create space for that, so clients can speak openly and ask every question they have.
Deep Relationships With Miami-Dade Courts & Counsel
Criminal defense in Miami-Dade County does not happen in a vacuum. It happens in busy courtrooms with judges, prosecutors, & public defenders who handle hundreds of cases. Justin talks openly in the video about how important those relationships are to the work we do.
“We also pride ourselves on knowing all the players in the game—the judges, the prosecutors, the public defenders, and maintaining those relationships,” he explains. That doesn’t mean special treatment or shortcuts. It means mutual respect, clear communication, and a realistic understanding of how cases tend to move through each courtroom.
Justin goes on to say, “It's very important to be able to be in the courthouse every day, cultivating those relationships and doing a good job for your clients.” That daily presence in Miami-Dade courts is part of how he has defended thousands of people at the juvenile, misdemeanor, & felony levels over more than two decades.
Recognized For Trial Skill & Client Service
Justin’s work in the courtroom has drawn attention from peers, professional organizations, & clients across Florida and beyond. Over the years, he has received several honors that reflect both trial performance and client focus.
The following points highlight some of the recognitions noted in his bio:
- Super Lawyers selections: Chosen for the Super Lawyers Rising Stars℠ list in criminal defense & DUI from 2010–2012 and again in 2015, an honor limited to a small percentage of attorneys in Florida.
- DUI defense recognition: Accepted as a member of The National Advocacy for DUI Defense, LLC (NAFDD), an organization reserved for criminal defense lawyers recognized as among the country’s top DUI defenders.
- National & state honors: Named one of the top “40 under 40” trial lawyers in the country in 2013 and selected as one of the Top Lawyers in Florida by the Legal Network that same year.
- Lawyers of Distinction: Inducted into the Lawyers of Distinction Network in 2022, an honor achieved by only a small percentage of lawyers nationwide.
- Client & peer reviews: Holds a 10 out of 10 AVVO rating since 2011 and has earned more than 150 five-star Google reviews.
He also holds certification as an operator/technician of the Intoxilyzer 8000, the breath-testing device used in many DUI cases. That technical background helps him understand how these machines work in real life, not just on paper.
Justin is a member of the American Bar Association, the Dade County Bar Association, & the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association. Various media outlets have interviewed him on criminal defense topics, drawing on his long experience in Miami-Dade courts.
How Justin’s Story Shapes The Way We Work For You
When you watch the video, you see more than a list of awards. You see how Justin’s background and values shape our daily work at Beckham Law Firm.
Several themes stand out:
- Hands-on leadership: He personally reviews every file and stays involved in each case at some point in time, rather than staying at arm’s length from clients.
- Team approach: He has handpicked attorneys over the years and built a firm culture around collaboration, shared strategy, & mutual respect.
- Local commitment: He chose to build his entire career in the same county where he grew up, practicing criminal defense in the same courts his family has worked in for generations.
- Accessible communication: He and our team speak Spanish every day with clients, so people can talk about their cases in the language that feels most natural.
- Courtroom focus: He has taken nearly 50 cases to trial and continues to spend time in Miami-Dade courthouses, building and maintaining relationships with judges, prosecutors, & public defenders.
All of this comes through in his tone on camera—steady, direct, and focused on service. The video gives you a glimpse of the person who will sit across from you in a conference room, walk with you into court, and help you weigh each decision along the way.
Get To Know Justin Before You Call
We know that reaching out to a criminal defense firm can feel overwhelming. Watching Justin speak about his work, his team, & his connection to Miami often makes that first step feel more personal and a little less intimidating.
If you or someone you care about faces a criminal charge in Miami-Dade County, we invite you to start by watching the video above. Then, when you are ready to talk, call (786) 244-8010 to schedule a free case evaluation with our team. By the time you walk into our office or join a virtual meeting, you will already have a sense of who Justin is and how we approach defending people in this community.
