Attorney Leslie Hazel

Attorney Leslie N. Hazel was born in East Prairie and grew up in Perryville, where she graduated from Perryville High School.

She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Southeast Missouri State University, where she served as a Justice on the All University Judicial Board. She then attended law school at St. Louis University. Leslie is licensed to practice in Missouri and is admitted to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Leslie has over a decade of experience litigating the tough cases. She began her career as a Missouri State Public Defender, representing clients charged with everything from low-level DWIs to homicide. She eventually became the District Defender, managing multiple offices covering nearly all of Southeast Missouri. She then served as a Federal Public Defender in the Cape Girardeau office, defending clients charged with federal crimes including drug charges, gun charges, and white collar offenses.

Leslie's practice focuses on criminal defense and personal injury. Her personal injury work includes motor vehicle collisions, dog bites, slip and fall, and premises liability cases.

In 2025 Leslie founded The Hazel Law Firm, and was joined a few months later by her husband and law partner, Attorney Gabe Hazel. Together they represent clients throughout Southeast Missouri, appearing regularly in Stoddard, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Scott, Carter, Pemiscot, and Mississippi Counties and the surrounding areas.

Leslie and Gabe live in Stoddard County with their two children. Leslie chose to build her practice and raise her family in Southeast Missouri, and she knows these courthouses and the people in them.