Education
University of Georgia School of Law (Juris Doctor, 2007)
University of Georgia (B.A. Sociology, 2004)
Loyola University of New Orleans (2000-02)
Leif A. Howard was born and raised in the Atlanta metropolitan area. He simultaneously served as an attorney on his mock trial team and played basketball for a Tucker High School team that went to the state finals. Without any height advantage, his dedication and persistence in honing his craft allowed him to play collegiate basketball for Loyola University and as a walk-on at the University of Georgia.
When he graduated from law school at the University of Georgia in 2007, Leif was recognized by classmates as the “Most Likely to Win a Million Dollar Verdict.” Leif initially practiced real estate and contract litigation for the large Florida-based law firm of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed.
In 2010, Leif returned to Georgia and spent five years as a Senior Assistant District Attorney for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. As a prosecutor, Leif was lead counsel in numerous felony cases, including more than 25 murder trials. He received the fastest favorable jury verdict in Georgia history (8 minutes), earned a Major Case Lawyer of the Year Award, and never lost a trial.
Leif joined The Howard Law Firm in 2016 and developed an active practice in civil litigation and criminal defense in the state and federal courts. Leif’s previous experience in locating critical evidence and interviewing reluctant witnesses for criminal prosecutions has proven to be a great asset for him in developing and strengthening his civil cases. Leif understands the importance of explaining the civil case process to his clients and communicating with them as he works to obtain the most favorable outcome.
As a criminal defense attorney, Leif utilizes his experience as a former prosecutor to exploit weaknesses in the evidence and to understand how a prosecutor would view the case. Leif is committed to carefully explaining the criminal process and achieving the best possible outcome for each client through a dismissal, pre-trial diversion, reduction to a lesser offense, plea bargain, or at trial.
Comments and reviews from Leif’s previous clients are available here.
University of Georgia School of Law (Juris Doctor, 2007)
University of Georgia (B.A. Sociology, 2004)
Loyola University of New Orleans (2000-02)
Supreme Court of Georgia
Supreme Court of Florida
Court of Appeals of Georgia
All Georgia courts
All Florida courts
State Bar of Georgia
Atlanta Bar Association
Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
DeKalb Lawyers Association
The National Black Trial Lawyers (Top 40 Under 40)
Suite 200, Kyleif Center
1479 Brockett Road
Tucker, GA 30084
Phone: (770) 270-5080
Fax: (770) 270-5033
Take Ga. Highway 78 (Stone Mountain Freeway) – East
Turn left at first exit – Brockett Road
Turn right at first light to stay on Brockett Road
Turn right into first driveway at Kyleif Center
Suite 200 faces the street