Justin Duran was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He attended the University of South Florida where he majored in Criminology and minored in History. He graduated summa cum laude in 2015. Immediately thereafter, he began his legal studies at Florida International University College of Law. It was there that Justin began training to become a trial attorney. He received the highest honor, the Book Award, in his Trial Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy classes. He joined the FIU Law Trial Team, where he immediately became a team captain and competed in statewide competitions. In November of 2017, he won first place at the Honorable E. Earle Zehmer Memorial Mock Trial Competition located in Orlando, Florida. As a result of his achievements, Justin was awarded a Trial Advocacy Scholarship by the Miami Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in May of 2018. He then graduated FIU Law with cum laude honors.

Even before passing the Bar Exam and graduating law school, Justin worked as a Certified Legal Intern at the Dade County Public Defender’s Office for two years. Once hired, he continued to hone his trial skills and his representation of clients as an Assistant Public Defender in Dade County for nearly three years, dedicating himself to zealously defending the indigent. Justin was the first attorney in his class of over two dozen to be promoted to handling felony cases. He has worked on hundreds of criminal cases, and has addressed legal issues ranging from minor misdemeanors, DUIs, violent felonies, property crimes, and sexual offenses. He has helped his clients receive numerous Not Guilty verdicts, both on misdemeanors and felonies.

Even as a full-time attorney, Justin continues to participate in trial advocacy academia. In September of 2019, he finished second place in the 8 th  Annual “Legal Eagle” Closing Argument Competition sponsored by the Legal Services of Greater Miami. He also coaches the FIU Trial Team.
Here are some links to Justin in the news:

https://law.fiu.edu/2018/05/30/trial-team-champion-justin-duran-awarded-facdl-miami-trial-advocacy-
scholarship/
https://law.fiu.edu/2019/09/24/fiu-trial-team-champion-justin-duran-places-second-at-closing-
argument-competition/
https://law.fiu.edu/2017/11/07/back-back-championships-fiu-trial-team/
https://law.fiu.edu/2018/09/07/champion-fiu-trial-team-featured-on-cover-of-florida-justice-
association-journal/