Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Attorney
Hillsborough County DUI & Criminal Defense Attorney
David C. Hardy – Board Certified Criminal Trial Law Expert
Attorney David C. Hardy is a highly respected criminal defense lawyer serving clients in Hillsborough County and across Florida. His practice focuses on DUI defense, Florida criminal defense, and federal criminal defense, bringing over two decades of courtroom experience to every case.
In 2010, The Florida Bar recognized Mr. Hardy as a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Trial Law—a credential held by fewer than one percent of attorneys statewide. This distinction represents the Bar’s highest level of professional evaluation for knowledge, skill, and trial experience.
Four years later, in 2014, the National Board of Trial Advocacy also awarded him National Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law, making him part of a very small group of attorneys in Florida who hold both state and national board certifications in this field.
Mr. Hardy has also earned top ratings from nationally recognized attorney review services. Martindale-Hubbell awarded him its highest rating of AV-Preeminent, a mark of exceptional legal ability and professional ethics as determined by his peers. AVVO has likewise rated him 10.0 Superb, its highest possible score.
Education & Early Career
Attorney Hardy graduated from Suffolk University Law School in Boston with high honors, ranking in the top four percent of his class. During law school, he received the Best Oral Advocate Award, the Jurisprudence Award, and the Paul McLaughlin Memorial Prosecutor Fellowship. In 1999, he served as an intern with the U.S. Department of Justice, further sharpening his trial skills before graduating in 2000.
Following graduation, Mr. Hardy served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras, where he trained police officers and judges in criminal trial law.
Prosecutor & Defense Experience in Hillsborough County
From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Hardy worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Tampa, where he prosecuted thousands of cases ranging from DUI arrests to serious felony charges. This experience gave him firsthand insight into how the State Attorney’s Office prepares cases—knowledge he now uses to build strong defenses for his clients.
In federal court, Mr. Hardy has represented individuals accused of complex offenses, including international extradition, drug trafficking, financial crimes, immigration violations, identity theft, firearms charges, and healthcare fraud. He has appeared in federal trial and appellate courts throughout Florida, Texas, and Georgia.
Today, through The Hardy Law Firm, Attorney Hardy combines his rare credentials, courtroom experience, and deep understanding of the law to defend clients facing DUI and criminal charges in Hillsborough County and beyond.
Hillsborough County DUI Defense Attorney
DUI Defense Attorney
Being arrested for DUI in Hillsborough County can change your life in an instant. A conviction could mean losing your license, carrying a permanent criminal record, and dealing with consequences that affect your work and family. The good news is you don’t have to face it alone. At The Hardy Law Firm, we stand beside clients in Tampa and throughout Hillsborough County who are fighting to protect their rights and their future after a DUI arrest.
Why You Should Hire The Hardy Law Firm P.A.
Choosing the right criminal defense lawyer may end up being one of the most important decisions you'll ever make. Before you decide which attorney is going to represent you in Hillsborough County, take the time to do some research. Find out about the attorney's education, training, and experience.
My name is attorney David Hardy and I work in the areas of Florida DUI defense, Florida criminal defense, and federal criminal defense. I have been practicing criminal law in Florida since 2005 and my offices are located in Tampa, Florida serving clients in Hillsborough County, Pinellas, Tampa, Plant City, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
I attended Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts during the evenings while I worked as a high school and middle school teacher during the day.
Going to law school at night while working days was hard work, but I enjoyed all of it. During law school, I was also able to gain valuable legal experience as a summer intern at the United States Attorney's Office in Providence, Rhode Island. I graduated law school in the top 4% of my class with high honors.
For more than five years I worked as a Tampa state prosecutor. During that time, I handled a variety of cases, including DUI, assault, battery, theft, drug possession, drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and violations of probation. As a prosecutor, I learned how the criminal justice system works, and I learned that a good criminal defense attorney can make a big difference in the life of his or her client.
In 2010, I left the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office and opened the Hardy Law Firm, P.A., where I defend people that have been accused of crimes in both Florida and federal courts. I represent individuals from all walks of life. What my clients all have in common is that their lives have been interrupted by a criminal accusation, and that they want an attorney who is going to stand up for them in court and fight for their rights. That is precisely what I do. Whether you are facing a second-degree misdemeanor or a first-degree felony, I have the knowledge, skills and ability to provide you with the best possible legal defense.
I am board certified as an expert in criminal trial law by both the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. I have taught criminal evidence and constitutional law courses at the college level. In 2019, I was honored when my criminal law article, Simon a Slave v. the State of Florida, was featured on the cover of the Florida Bar Journal.
I am fluent in Spanish. While some attorneys may have a secretary or staff member that they use as an interpreter to communicate with clients, I speak directly to my Spanish speaking clients in their native language.
Like any law firm I charge for my services. However, I pledge to you that my fees will always be fair and reasonable. I base my fees upon a variety of factors, including the factual complexity of the case, the type of criminal charge, the amount of time the case required, and the level of expertise the case demands.
When a potential client calls me, they sometimes ask me for a guarantee that their charges will be reduced or dismissed. I can't guarantee how a particular case will turn out. However, there are some things that I can guarantee. First, I guarantee that you will be able to speak to me personally when you have a question about your case. Second, I guarantee that I will take the time to understand the goals you have for your case. Third, I guarantee that I will do everything in my power to get you the best possible result in your case. A lifelong friend of mine once told me that the best job is the one in which you are using your talents to help as many people as possible. For me, working as a criminal defense lawyer fits that description. I hope you will allow me the privilege of using the education, skills, knowledge and experience I have acquired throughout my career to fight for you, and to ensure that you get the best possible result in your case.