J. Kevin Hayslett | DUI Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer
Criminal justice attorney · Largo, FL · reviewed since 2015
iHow the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%90+49.1Reliability 24%82+19.9Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%39+2.8Experts Score= 86Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.86SCORE
AGradeiLetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20.
#40 of 80 civil litigation lawyersiPosition by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. · better than 51%
4.9★★★★★342 Google reviews · 11 photos
98%five-star reviews
5.00★last 12 monthsiAverage stars on reviews from the last 12 months only.
3%1–2★ in 2 yearsiShare of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.
J. Kevin Hayslett | DUI Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer at a glance
Google reviewers rate this criminal defense practice 4.9 out of 5 based on 342 reviews, frequently citing professional communication, thorough case explanations, and successful outcomes for DUIs and traffic violations. Clients often highlight the team's responsiveness and ability to reduce charges or seal records. However, one low-star review notes a lack of response to initial contact attempts for scheduling a consultation, indicating potential delays in intake.
Google rating: 4.9 out of 5 from 342 reviews (98% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 342 Google reviews (283 with written comments).
Owner responses: the business replied to 17% of reviews.
Score per factor (100 = best)iEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: craft & service and value; weakest: replies to reviews.
This companyCivil Litigation Lawyers median0 = centre, 100 = best
SatisfactioniSatisfaction · 54% of the scoreRecency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.J. Kevin Hayslett | DUI Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer: 90/100 on this factor. Category median: 90.A
90
ReliabilityiReliability · 24% of the scoreHow rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.J. Kevin Hayslett | DUI Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer: 82/100 on this factor. Category median: 84.A
82
Craft & serviceiCraft & service · penalty only, up to −10 pointsGoogle review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.J. Kevin Hayslett | DUI Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 98.A
100
ValueiValue · 14% of the scoreCustomers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.J. Kevin Hayslett | DUI Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.A
100
MomentumiMomentum · penalty only, up to −10 pointsPenalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.J. Kevin Hayslett | DUI Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.A
100
Replies to reviewsiReplies to reviews · 7% of the scoreHow often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.J. Kevin Hayslett | DUI Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer: 39/100 on this factor. Category median: 55.D
39
Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.
Star ratings
342 Google reviews we collected
4.9of 5
5 stars33498%
4 stars00%
3 stars10%
2 stars10%
1 star62%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 283 written reviews
98%praise
Praise32598%
Complaints52%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Staff & attitude9729%
Would recommend7122%
Honesty & trust4012%
Speed & response3912%
Quality & results3611%
Communication3410%
Price & value134%
What customers talk about
We read 283 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“I wanted him to know how much his kindness meant and how grateful I was that he had taken the time to help two people he didn’t even know when there w…”
“I will never forget what Kevin did for us, and I couldn’t recommend him more highly.”
“A few months ago, my significant other and I were dealing with a situation that had us genuinely scared and worried about what it could mean for our future.”
“Kevin could have told us to call his office the next day.”
“…referral from a family friend, I could not be more thankful for the attention to detail and professionalism that Kevin and Shannon took on my case.…”
“When the worst day of your life happens, someone with the experience and knowledge, in addition to the ability to remain a calming force is paramount.”
“My significant other explained what was happening, and Kevin actually took the time to listen.”
“His fees were reasonable especially with the immense amount of work he put in and the stellar results he achieved.”
People customers mention
Shannon16 reviews
Crown7 reviews
Army4 reviews
Pinellas3 reviews
County3 reviews
Clearwater3 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Recent reviews
CCannon2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 months ago★★★★★
Wonderful attorney, really helped me with a big speeding ticket and many other things!
AAnthony2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 3 months ago★★★★★
Great experience with Kevin. Highly recommended. Process was smooth with great communication.
PPaulLocal Guide · 25 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 4 months ago★★★★★
Extremely professional. Kevin handles everything and educates you on the process. I highly recommend Kevin.
TTrevor7 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 5 months ago★★★★★
Kevin and Shannon made a difficult time a lot easier. I knew that I was in the right hands and it felt like weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Thank you all!
JJustin4 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 5 months ago★★★★★
The day after my incident, I did not know who to call or what to do. After taking a referral from a family friend, I could not be more thankful for the attention to detail and professionalism that Kevin and Shannon took on my case. Kevin went to bat for me Day 1 to get charges reduced, adjudicated, and sealed.…
MMatthew1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 6 months ago★★★★★
I had an excellent experience working with Kevin and Shannon! . From the very beginning, they were professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my case. They took the time to explain everything clearly, kept me informed throughout the entire process, and were always quick to respond to any questions I had.…
I don’t even know if a five-star review can adequately describe my experience with Kevin Hayslett, because one of the most remarkable parts of this story is that Kevin was never even our attorney—and before that day, neither of us had ever spoken to or met him in our lives. He had absolutely no idea who we were.
A few months ago, my significant other and I were dealing with a situation that had us genuinely scared and worried about what it could mean for our future. While trying to figure out where to turn, I came across Kevin’s cell phone number online. It was later in the day, around or after normal business hours, and honestly, I didn’t expect him to answer. This is an attorney with an established office and a full staff, and we were complete strangers calling his cell phone out of the blue.
But he answered.
My significant other explained what was happening, and Kevin actually took the time to listen.
That alone surprised me. But what happened afterward is what I will never forget.
Kevin could have told us to call his office the next day. He could have given us a few minutes of general advice, referred us somewhere else, or simply explained that there wasn’t much he could do because we weren’t his clients.
Instead, he went far beyond anything we ever expected.
Kevin voluntarily took time out of his own day to look into our situation and investigate what was going on. He helped us find the answers we desperately needed and ultimately helped us get to a point where we could finally put something behind us that had been weighing heavily on both of us.
Most importantly, he gave us the peace of mind of knowing that we wouldn’t have to spend our future worrying about this hanging over our heads.
What makes what Kevin did so extraordinary to me is that he had absolutely no obligation to do any of it.
We weren’t his clients. He wasn’t being paid to help us. We weren’t friends, acquaintances, former clients, or people he had ever even met. We were simply two strangers who found his cell phone number online and reached out during a frightening situation—and Kevin chose to answer, listen, and help.
That tells me more about an attorney’s character than any advertisement, award, or list of credentials ever could.
A few months later, I reached out to Kevin because I had never forgotten what he did for us. I wanted him to know how much his kindness meant and how grateful I was that he had taken the time to help two people he didn’t even know when there was absolutely nothing in it for him.
His response brought me to tears.
He told me that after almost forty years of practicing law, hearing what his help had meant to us reminded him why he became a lawyer in the first place. When I told him I wished there were some way I could repay his kindness, the only thing he asked was that we share our experience so that perhaps someone else who is scared and searching for someone to trust might find their way to him.
So that is exactly why I’m writing this.
If you’re reading these reviews because you’re frightened, overwhelmed, or simply don’t know who you can trust, I hope our experience tells you something about Kevin Hayslett that a traditional review can’t:
When two complete strangers reached out to him for help, later in the day, on his cell phone, when there was absolutely nothing in it for him—he answered.
He listened.
And then he chose to help.
He gave us something that was priceless at that moment—answers, reassurance, and the peace of mind of knowing we could finally move forward without this hanging over our future.
That kind of compassion, integrity, and humanity can’t be taught, and it certainly can’t be advertised.
I will never forget what Kevin did for us, and I couldn’t recommend him more highly.
Response from the owner · a week ago
LM, thank you for sharing this powerful story. Kevin was genuinely moved by your follow-up call, and we are all touched that you took his one request to heart. Knowing he could provide peace of mind during such a frightening time is a profound reminder of why he does this work. Your experience speaks volumes, and we are sincerely grateful.
T
Tim Mitchell6 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Tim has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Awesome attorney & Staff ,Straight to the point & Results second to None
Response from the owner · 3 months ago
Short and to the point, just how we like it. The whole crew keeps things straightforward, so it's great to hear that came through. Thanks for the shout-out.
A
Anthony Michael2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Anthony has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Extremely professional. Kevin handles everything and educates you on the process. I highly recommend Kevin.
Response from the owner · 4 months ago
Paul, thank you for the recommendation. It means a lot to hear that Kevin made the process feel clear and manageable by handling things well and taking the time to educate you along the way. That kind of guidance can make a difficult situation much easier to face.
T
Trevor Rector7 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Trevor has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Kevin and Shannon made a difficult time a lot easier. I knew that I was in the right hands and it felt like weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Thank you all!
Response from the owner · 5 months ago
Trevor, thank you for sharing this. Difficult times feel very different when the right people step in and help carry some of the weight with you. We are glad Kevin and Shannon made things easier and gave you the confidence that you were in good hands.
J
Justin Cowan4 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Justin has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
The day after my incident, I did not know who to call or what to do. After taking a referral from a family friend, I could not be more thankful for the attention to detail and professionalism that Kevin and Shannon took on my case. Kevin went to bat for me Day 1 to get charges reduced, adjudicated, and sealed. Shannon was so easy to get ahold of with my endless questions throughout the past few months. With this process behind me, I can confidently say, I had the right people standing with me!
Response from the owner · 5 months ago
Justin, thank you for sharing this. The days right after an incident can feel overwhelming, so it means a great deal to hear that Kevin and Shannon helped bring clarity, steady support, and strong criminal defense representation when you needed it most. We will be sure to share your kind words with both of them.
At J. Kevin Hayslett | DUI Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyer, we are proud to support clients here in Clearwater, FL with clear communication and dependable guidance through every stage of the process.