Juan Carlos Arias focuses his practice in the areas of Florida Lawyer Regulation, Lawyer Ethics Consulting, State Professional Licensing, Law Student Representation before the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, and Unlicensed Practice of Law (UPL). Juan Carlos was born in Puerto Rico and is the son of Cuban immigrants. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1996. Juan Carlos holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Dickinson College and a Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law.

Juan Carlos became a commissioned officer in the United States Army in 1993 and upon graduating from law school served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC). He completed the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course and the Judge Advocate Criminal Law Advocacy Course in 1996. During his military service, Juan Carlos attained the rank of Captain and served as a Legal Assistance attorney, Administrative Law attorney, and Trial Counsel (military prosecutor). In addition to his military prosecutorial duties, he also served as the Special Assistant United States Attorney responsible for the prosecution of civilians accused of committing crimes within the military installation. Juan Carlos’ awards and decorations include the Airborne Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.

In 2002, Juan Carlos joined the State Attorney’s Office for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Broward County and prosecuted cases in the Misdemeanor Trial Unit, Domestic Violence Unit, the Felony Trial Unit, and the Economic Crimes Unit. He was recognized Trial Convictor of Habitual Offenders in February and May 2004.

Juan Carlos became a bar counsel for The Florida Bar in December 2005. As bar counsel, he was one of six attorneys responsible for the investigation and prosecution of attorneys who violated the Rules of Professional Conduct in the counties of Broward and Palm Beach. He has handled over 100 disciplinary cases filed at the Florida Supreme Court level and has successfully argued before the Supreme Court of Florida.

Juan Carlos is a member of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL) and has served in the board of directors of three outstanding non-profit organizations: Legal Aid Services of Broward County/Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc. (www.LegalAid.org); Hispanic Unity of Florida, Inc. and as Chairman of the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County, Inc. (www.Sheriffsfoundationofbroward.org). He also served on the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Panel. He is a past-president of the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association and is the proud recipient of the Broward County Young Lawyers’ Association 2009 Paul May Young Lawyers Section Professionalism Award. Juan Carlos frequently lectures in the area of lawyer regulation at CLE programs sponsored by voluntary bar associations and private law firms.