A graduate of Flagler College (BA) and Stetson University (MA/JD), Lisa Smith Bedwell, Esq. was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2005 and the District of Columbia Bar in 2006.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Lisa worked as a legislative affairs writer in Washington D.C. Her work as an editor has appeared in Florida Bar Journal, and she has written for Lawyer Magazine, FAWL Journal, Development Magazine, and PT Magazine, among others.
Lisa has focused her practice on family law since 2007, and is both a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and is trained in collaborative divorce practice.
After serving nearly 6 years as staff counsel for the 13th Judicial Circuit domestic relations, juvenile, and civil divisions, in June 2012 Lisa went into private practice with the family law firm Rechel & Associates, P.A. in Tampa, Florida, where she worked in litigation, mediation, and appeals.
In February 2015, Lisa opened Smith Bedwell Family Law, P.A. in Maitland, Florida, focusing on family law. Contemporaneously, she worked with Stenstrom McIntosh, Colbert & Whigham, P.A. as their of counsel family attorney, and as a contract writer for LexisNexis, for which she authored several family law templates and instructions.
In June of 206 Lisa was appointed as a General Magistrate with the Ninth Judicial Circuit, where she presided over domestic relations, mental health, and dependency matters until December 2025.
Bar Admissions
o The Florida Bar (2005)
o District of Columbia Bar (2006)
o Middle District of Florida (2007)
o Florida Supreme Court Mediator (2009)
o Trained in Collaborative Divorce (2013)
Memberships
o The Central Florida Family Law Inn of Court (2015 – present)
o The Association of Florida Magistrates and Hearing Officers (2019-present. Chair 2023-2024)
o Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida (2015-present)
o Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers (2015-2021)
o Florida Association of Women Lawyers (2009-2021)
o FAWL Journal Committee (2018-2019)
o FAWL Lobby Days – Subcommittee Chair (2019-2020)
o International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (2013-2018)
o Federal Bar Association – Orlando Chapter (2018-2019)
o Orange County Bar Association (2012-2020)
o The Stann W. Givens Family Law American Inn of Tampa (2011-2015)
o Next Generation Divorce (Collaborative Divorce Institute of Tampa) (2013-2015)
o Hillsborough Association of Women’s Lawyers (2009-2015)
o Hillsborough County Bar Association (2007-2015)
Lisa has also given numerous presentations and appeared in numerous legal publications.
Presentations
o AFMH Education Committee – 2024 Dependency Updates (presenter) 08/2024 (online)
o OSCA Judicial Faculty Training Course (trainee) 09/2023 (Sarasota FL)
o Family Law Inns of Court CLE – Alimony Reform (presenter) 07/2023 (Orlando FL)
o OCBA Family Committee Major Seminar – Judicial Panel (participant) 04/2023 (Orlando FL)
o Florida General Magistrate and Hearing Officer Education Institute (co-planner/event host) 05/2023 and 05/2024 (Kissimmee, FL)
o OCBA Family Committee Major Seminar – Judicial Panel (moderator) 04/2021 (Orlando, FL)
o FAWL Lobby Days – Legislative Briefing CLE (presenter) 01/2020 (Tallahassee, FL)
o Using the Final Hearing to Settle Your Case, CPLS, P.A. 06/2019 (Orlando, FL)
o OCBA Family Committee Major Seminar – Case Law Review (presenter) 05/2019 (Orlando, FL)
o OCBA Family Committee Major Seminar – Successful Preparation for Litigation (presenter) 05/2018 (Orlando, FL)
o Tampa Bay Paralegal Association – Divorce Litigation – Quality Case Preparation for Positive Perception from the Court (presenter) 06/2011 (Tampa, FL)
o NAIOP Chapter Leadership and Legislative Retreat (presenter) 05/2002 (Washington D.C.)
Legal Magazines
o Feature, “Advice from Across the State.” Published in FAWL Journal, Spring/Summer 2019
o Feature, “Revenge Porn and Cyberstalking: Practical Tips for Practice.” Published in FAWL Journal, Fall/Winter 2018
o Feature, “Support of her Peers: Resources for Female Candidates.” Published in FAWL Journal, November 2015
o LexisNexis (various content – forms and articles on family law topics) (2015-2016)
o Feature, “Steady at the Helm: Judge Barton’s Service to Pro Bono.” Lawyer Magazine, Volume 21, No. 1 (Sept. – Oct. 2010)
o Column, “From the Courthouse: Traffic Court Pot Holes.” Lawyer Magazine, Volume 20, No. 8 (May 2010)
o Column, “From the Courthouse: The Best Kept Secret in the 13th Judicial Circuit.” Lawyer Magazine, Volume 20, No. 2 (Oct. 2009)
o Column, “From the Courthouse: People’s Court – Gone to the Dogs.” Lawyer Magazine, Volume 19, No. 9 (June 2009)
o Column, “From the Courthouse,” (co-author with Honorable Susan Sexton) “Guardianship Advocacy: Helping Developmentally Challenged Adults in the Community.” Lawyer Magazine, Volume 18, No. 4 (Dec. 2007)
