About: Attorney Frank Russo

Pinellas County Criminal & DUI Defense 

Attorney Frank Russo has an extensive background in the areas of DUI and Criminal Defense. After graduating from the College of Business Administration at the University of South Florida in Tampa, he attended Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles. When Frank began his legal studies, O.J. Simpson prosecutor, Marcia Clark, was finishing her education at the same school.

Frank participated in a clinical internship at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office; the Public Defender’s Office and even the U.S. Attorney’s Office. While gaining practical experience at the latter agency, Frank’s legal career got a “jump start” when he was selected to work as a law clerk on the John Delorean prosecution. The high profile case attracted worldwide media attention. Frank went on to earn the “American Jurisprudence Award” for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Constitutional Criminal Procedure.

After receiving his law degree, Frank was appointed as a prosecutor with the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office. It is that position that he credits with affording him the greatest practical experience. Four of his former co-workers from that agency have since gone on to become our local judges. He opened his own law office in 1986 and has limited his practice to the area of criminal defense. In 1996, Frank was chosen as the “campaign treasurer” for another senior prosecutor’s bid to the bench. Since that time, he has worked on multiple judicial campaigns aimed at retaining siome of our local judges. Frank has guest-lectured to college students at both St. Petersburg Junior College and at the University of South Florida.

Attorney Frank Russo completed an intensive continuing legal education program at Harvard Law School. He also attended Emory University for instruction related to breath-testing instruments. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration and the International Association of Chiefs of Police recently certified him in the proper administration of “field sobriety testing.” As a result of his post graduate education, Frank is among only a handful of Florida Attorneys certified to operate the Intoxilyzer and certified in the proper detection of impaired drivers. He is one of only two Pinellas County defense attorneys to be selected to serve on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s DUI Gold Standards Committee.

Highly Recognized by the Local Legal Community

In July 2010 Tampa Bay Magazine included Frank in its article naming “Tampa Bay’s Top Lawyers.” In 2011, online consumer lawyer rating organization “AVVO” honored Frank with its highest designation of “Superb.” The rating organization found that “Attorney Frank Russo has been widely recognized by the legal community for superb professional conduct and experience.”

Attorney Frank Russo serves as a member of the criminal defense legal team at Russo and Russo along with two other former state prosecutors, Marc Pelletier and Tim Sullivan. The law office of Russo & Russo has been awarded an “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This 140 year old company has placed Russo & Russo on the “Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.” The “AV” distinction is awarded only to select law firms who have exhibited the highest level of skill, integrity and ethical standards.

Related Links:
Attorney Frank Russo Shares His Expertise With The Pinellas Public Defender’s Office
Attorney Frank Russo on the Radio
What Judges & Lawyers say About Our Work
How to Select the Best Criminal Defense Attorney for Your Case
Ask a Former Client About Our Work