The Umansky Podcast William "The Lawman" Umansky

LeRoy Costner is a Death Penalty Certified and experienced trial lawyer. LeRoy Costner understands when you start something, you must finish it. LeRoy has done it all – farmed cotton fields in Mississippi, and orange groves in Polk County. He had to work full time to put himself through college at Valencia Community College and Florida Southern University. During school, he worked at Universal Studios and a five star Orlando hotel as a concierge, where he learned the “fine art” of service. He then graduated from Barry University School of Law where he won the prestigious Lion of Justice award from the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism. During his final semester of law school, he worked at the Orange County State Attorney’s Office as a Certified Legal Intern prosecuting 1st and 2nd-degree misdemeanors.

After graduating from law school, he took a job with the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office in Key West, Florida. Over the next five years, he prosecuted thousands of criminal cases. As an Assistant State Attorney, he was a special prosecutor for DUI cases, receiving the same training that law enforcement officers undergo, as well specialized training in prosecution. Before taking on the additional responsibilities of prosecuting crimes of violence, LeRoy was selected to train incoming DUI prosecutors. He then went on to prosecute numerous violent crimes for the Government and was often chosen by his bosses to prosecute conflict cases in other counties which is an honor for a prosecutor.

When LeRoy goes to work for you –here is some of what you can expect – he will diplomatically negotiate with the opposing side so that he can keep the lines of communication open and get the best results for you; he will methodically check the accuracy of your case for all possible defenses. He will maintain communication with you at every turn, and he WILL fight for you if it comes down to a jury trial.

Hard work. That is what Leroy Costner will provide for his clients.

Race car driver, small business owner and criminal defense lawyer, Jose L. Garcia knows what it takes to help his clients who get accused or arrested for a crime. Jose understands that being a great lawyer is very similar to racing high end sports cars at breakneck speed. He helps his clients like he races his cars. He handles his client’s case with preparation, precision and passion. As a former owner of a building materials company, Jose is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty when he defends his clients.

Mr. Garcia is a graduate of Florida International University with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and later graduated the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in 2006. Unlike many lawyers, Jose did not immediately go into law school. He graduated college, opened a Building Materials company in Miami and worked long and hard hours to make his business successful. Jose learned the business from his father as a young boy. You can be assured as a client that Jose knows the value of hard work and what it takes to get a job done. Long hours out in the South Florida sun and doing physical labor steeled Jose for the job to come: becoming a great attorney.

While attending law school, Jose also worked as a Certified Legal Intern at the Public Defender’s Office. He learned from his experience there that most of his clients were hard working people who simply made a mistake, or that in some cases, were falsely accused. He became passionate about his desire to help people facing difficult circumstances. Even in law school, Jose had the ability to sit as lead counsel in jury trials even before he became a lawyer!

Since 2006, Jose has dedicated his entire practice to criminal defense. Mr. Garcia had handled thousands of cases ranging from simple civil traffic infractions to first degree murder charges. He has practiced in hundreds of jury and non-jury trials in those years. He knows that you, the client, are going through a stressful time no matter what charge you face.

Whether a small criminal misdemeanor or a serious complex felony, Jose will give you the same level of attention and focus no matter what. Mr. Garcia is married and has two wonderful kids. While not spending time with his family or racing cars, he enjoys playing golf and giving back to the community he serves.

Rachel Mattie is a criminal defense attorney in the Orlando area. Ms. Mattie is a former Assistant Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange County, Florida. As an Assistant Public Defender, Ms. Mattie represented hundreds of indigent clients in the Central Florida community in both County and Circuit Court, defending various criminal matters including juvenile offenses, traffic cases, DUIs, thefts, drug possession, violations of probation, and more. While at the Public Defender’s Office, Ms. Mattie developed a passion for not only active litigation and trial strategy, but more importantly, client satisfaction. Ms. Mattie is not only committed to achieving favorable results, but also ensuring that her clients fully understand the legal process and are actively involved in the outcome of their case.

Ms. Mattie’s decision to pursue a career in criminal law began at a young age. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Ms. Mattie was exposed to a community with one of the highest violent crime rates in America. This sparked an initial interest in the prosecutorial side of crime. However, in high school, Ms. Mattie began volunteering as a peer representative for teenagers accused of low-level offenses through the Duval County Teen Court Program. Ms. Mattie learned just how rewarding it is to be a voice for others and serve as an advocate in the criminal justice system. It was then that Ms. Mattie developed a distinct interest in effectively representing the accused and protecting constitutional rights.

Ms. Mattie graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Legal Studies, with minors in Criminal Justice and Political Science. She was the recipient of the Bright Future’s Scholarship and an Academic Competitiveness grant upon admission. Ms. Mattie attended Barry University School of Law in Orlando and graduated in the top 10% of her class. Ms. Mattie was elected Editor-in-Chief of Barry Law Review in her second year, authored two articles selected for publication, was employed by the school as a Research Assistant, and developed a symposium that focused on self-defense law and ethical prosecution that attracted over 100 attendees from across the state.

Ms. Mattie is currently a member of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as well as the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Brice Aikens is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer dedicated to representing those facing criminal accusations in the Greater Orlando area and surrounding Central Florida communities. Prior to joining The Umansky Law Firm, Brice was the former Division Chief for the Orange County Public Defender’s Office in the Ninth Judicial Circuit where he litigated cases ranging from homicide and trafficking to possession and petit theft.

Brice received his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida and his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law. In 2012, Brice became a Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney, meaning his knowledge, skills, and proficiency in criminal law meets the highest standards set by The Florida Bar. With this Certification, he joins only a small percentage of attorneys who can call themselves legal experts or specialists.

Brice is active member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has also been recognized as one of Florida’s Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine.

Outside of practicing law, Brice has published several scholarly articles and is actively involved in the community. In 2013, he created The Minnie Aikens Foundation with the mission to help eliminate the financial barrier that prevents aspiring students from going to college.