Law Office of Paula Coffman - Orlando, FL

Dedicated Criminal Appeals and Post-Conviction Advocacy in Orlando

When an unfavorable verdict or unjust sentence is entered at trial, the legal battle is far from over. The Law Office of Paula Coffman provides highly specialized appellate representation and criminal defense across Orlando, Orange County, and appellate courts throughout the State of Florida. Paula C. Coffman, Esq., earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law in 1983 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1984. Over more than four decades of distinguished practice, attorney Coffman has developed an exceptional command of Florida criminal law, having served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Bureau and as an Advanced Felony Specialist in the Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, where she managed circuit-wide appellate and capital litigation.

Since establishing her solo appellate practice in 1998, Paula Coffman has dedicated her career to scrutinizing trial transcripts, uncovering legal errors, and giving convicted individuals a meaningful second chance at justice. If you need a criminal defense attorney in Orlando who possesses deep appellate mastery or wish to hire an appellate lawyer to challenge a wrongful conviction, the Law Office of Paula Coffman delivers the intellectual rigor and thorough advocacy necessary to present compelling arguments before higher courts.

Appellate Focus and Core Defense Practice Areas

The practice maintains a deliberately selective caseload, allowing attorney Coffman to dedicate comprehensive attention to every client's record. Key areas of representation include:

• Direct Criminal Appeals: Litigating appeals following trial convictions before Florida District Courts of Appeal, including the First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth DCA, as well as the Florida Supreme Court. Attorney Coffman identifies trial court errors, flawed jury instructions, improper evidentiary rulings, and prosecutorial misconduct that prejudiced the outcome.
• Post-Conviction Relief and Rule 3.850 Motions: Preparing and arguing motions for post-conviction relief under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850, focusing on claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, newly discovered exculpatory evidence, and constitutional violations that occurred outside the trial record.
• Sentence Reductions and Rule 3.800 Proceedings: Correcting illegal sentences, erroneous scoresheet calculations, and unlawful mandatory minimums through Florida Rule 3.800 motions to reduce prolonged terms of imprisonment.
• Trial-Level Criminal Defense: Defending individuals facing felony and misdemeanor charges in central Florida trial courts, including violent crime defense, drug crime defense, theft and burglary defense, and DUI defense, ensuring that defense issues are properly preserved on the record from day one.
• State and Federal Habeas Corpus Petitions: Challenging unlawful detention, denial of bond, and unconstitutional convictions through extraordinary writs of habeas corpus in state and federal jurisdictions.

The Philosophy That Freedom Is Paramount

Operating under the core conviction that freedom is second only to life itself, Paula Coffman approaches each post-conviction and appellate case with meticulous scholarship and determination. Appellate practice requires a detailed comprehension of case law precedents and persuasive written advocacy. For families and defendants seeking to find an attorney who is uniquely qualified to pursue redemption, vacate sentences, or seek new trials, the Law Office of Paula Coffman provides seasoned, compassionate, and unwavering counsel.