Joel Berman was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. He graduated from Seminole High School in 1998 and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2011. After high school, he took his academic and tennis talents to the University of Miami, where he was a 4-time academic all-American before graduating cum laude in 2002 while majoring in Business Management with a minor in Sports Management.
After college, Mr. Berman worked as the assistant men’s tennis coach at the University of Pennsylvania from 2002 through 2004. However, with a passion and burning desire to practice law, he continued his education at Stetson University College of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate in 2008.
From 2009–2012, Mr. Berman practiced as an assistant state attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, where he prosecuted and litigated over 25 jury trials. As a prosecutor, he handled a wide range of misdemeanor and felony cases.
After finishing his time at the State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Berman joined Cole, Scott, & Kissane, P.A., a large regional insurance defense firm, where he practiced general civil litigation, personal injury, and premises liability defense work.
Once he got a great feel for the inner workings of insurance defense work, he joined and eventually became a partner at the Law Firm of Yanchuck, Berman, Wadley, Thomas & Berman, P.A., where he was head of the pre-litigation department.
Finally, after 10 years as a partner at Yanchuck and Berman, P.A., he has decided to start his own law practice, Joel Berman Law, PLLC, dba JB LAW, where he will continue to specialize in personal injury and criminal defense work.
Today, he continues to help the citizens of our community in both criminal and personal injury law. He is a member of the Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association and the St. Petersburg Bar Association and gives guest lectures at local high schools, teaching the children all aspects of the law. Additionally, he continues to devote hundreds of pro bono hours to help raise money for the Beth Dillinger Foundation (Nourish to Flourish program) and the chronically hungry children here in Pinellas County.
This community is his home. As a former local tennis coach, assistant little league coach, and assistant coach of the Seminole High School baseball program from 2010–2016, he continues to help the children of our community in all aspects of life. Today, he currently serves as an assistant coach for his stepdaughter’s 8U softball team. Additionally, he is a devoted husband to his wife, Jasandra, and a loving father to his daughter Lilly, stepdaughter Savannah, and son Liam.
If you want someone who has a passion for helping people and will be by your side every step of the way for any of your personal injury or criminal defense needs, you should schedule a free consultation with Joel Berman. He can be reached at 727-609-4588 or you can contact him online.
Mr. Berman is a native of Staten Island, New York. He moved to Florida to attend the University of Miami where he graduated in 1973. After graduating from Stetson University College of Law in 1976, he went to work for the Pinellas State Attorney’s Office where he became one of the lead prosecutors in major felonies with more than 200 jury trials.
After making his mark at the State Attorney’s Office, in 1990, Ira joined a local law firm headed up by attorney Joel Yanchuck which eventually became known as Yanchuck and Berman, P.A. For the past 43 years, Ira developed an extensive criminal defense practice and being regarded as one if not the most respected criminal defense attorney in our community. Through the years, Ira became the head of the firm’s personal injury pre-litigation department where he used his vast knowledge, whit and charm to dazzle juries and insurance companies.
Besides being a pillar in our legal community, Ira has continued to give back by coaching baseball at every level and heading up multiple charity events to help raise money for the chronically hungry children here in Pinellas County.
By teaming up with the Beth Dillinger Foundation Nourish to Flourish Program, Ira has been able to spearhead our firm’s ability to feed over 8 school and 650 children per week so these children have food over the weekend.
He is a hero and mentor to so many people in our community and we are honored at Joel Berman Law to have him continue to share his plethora of skills and knowledge to help all of our clients on a daily basis.
Most importantly, Ira is a devoted husband to his wife, Susie of almost 50 years, a loving father to his children, Joel Berman and Jodi Sonenshine, and a super rock star grandparent to Dylan, Sami, Savannah, Lilly and Liam.
Jasandra Berman was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and moved to the Tampa Bay Area in 2009. Jasandra started her career in the legal field when she graduated high school in 2002 as a receptionist for a prestigious law firm in Miami. After moving to Tampa, she continued her career in the legal field and now has over 10 years of experience as a paralegal in personal injury, in both pre-litigation and litigation.
Today, she works side by side with her husband, Joel Berman, as his right hand. Together, they have a beautiful blended family with two beautiful girls, their handsome son, and their golden retriever, Cane.
Additionally, Mrs. Berman is on the committee of her synagogue, Congregation B’nai Isreal, as well as a board member at Menorah Life.
Heather Fitch was born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Heather worked in food service management for nine years before starting her career in the legal field as a receptionist for a prestigious law firm in Saint Petersburg. She has worked her way up in the legal field and now has over 5 years of experience as a paralegal in personal injury pre-litigation. Heather and her fiancé Josh together have two beautiful girls. In her free time she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
A.J. Stalker was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She relocated to Florida to attend the University of South Florida and, unable to leave the sunshine, has made the Tampa Bay area her home for the majority of her adult life.
After many years in the customer service industry, including a five-year term working in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, AJ accepted a position in West Palm Beach with the law firm of Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart, and Shipley. There, she worked her way through the ranks, learning every aspect of a personal injury claim. Additionally, she was a member of their Tobacco Litigation Team where she specialized in Mass Torts Litigation.
Upon returning to Tampa, AJ continued her career as a lead paralegal of a personal injury law firm where she personally handled over 100 personal injury files at a time. With the knowledge to work a file from its inception through settlement, she further honed her skills in case management, the negotiation process, and closing cases.
As a former paralegal at Yanchuck and Berman, P.A., Joel Berman Law is so fortunate to have had AJ join the team in April 2024 where she works alongside Attorney Joel Berman in all aspects of personal injury claims from pre-suit to trial. In her spare time, AJ is active in the community and enjoys spending time with her daughter, two sons, friends, and family.