Sam has extensive trial experience in criminal and family law courts throughout Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1988. He has been Board Certified in Criminal Law since 1994. Sam practices primarily criminal and family law. Sam has been voted by his peers to be included in the Best Lawyers In America and Texas Monthly’s Superlawyers publications. He also holds the highest rating possible by Martindale-Hubbel. In 2014, the publication Best Lawyers in America designated Sam as Lawyer of the Year for Austin, Texas in the area of criminal defense.
Sam is licensed in State and Federal court. Sam was appointed by the Governor of Texas to the Texas Forensic Science Commission in 2005, where he served as its Presiding Officer until September, 2009. Sam frequently teaches trial advocacy at continuing education events for attorneys. He also served on the State Bar of Texas Grievance Panel for District 9 from 2004 until 2010, when his term expired as Chair of the Panel. Sam presently serves as President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
SAMUEL'S CREDENTIALS
YEAR JOINED ORGANIZATION: 2001
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Criminal Defense
Family Law
CERTIFICATION/SPECIALTIES:
Board Certified, Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1994
BAR ADMISSIONS:
Texas, 1988
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1991
U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 2005
EDUCATION:
The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1988
Juris Doctor
Honors: Achievement Award, Highest Course Grade: Texas Criminal Procedure II
Honors: Achievement Award, Highest Course Grade: Federal Criminal Procedure I
University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA, 1985
Bachelor of Business Administration
Honors: With High Honors
Honors: Business Honors Program
CLASSES / SEMINARS TAUGHT:
December, 2017: Defending Accusations of Sex Crimes, TCDLA Course Director and Speaker (Topic: Ethics)
January, 2017: Prairie Dog Advanced Criminal Law Seminar, Lubbock, Texas, Civil and Criminal Aspects of Domestic Violence Cases
June, 2016: Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Seminar, San Antonio, Texas Topic: Ethics in the 21st Century
December, 2015: Austin, Texas – Defending Sexual Assault Cases Seminar, TCDLA Speaker: Ethical Issues and the Initial Client Interview
March, 2015: "Taste of Voir Dire" – Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Voir Dire Demonstration/Instructor
October, 2014: State Bar of Texas: "Prosecuting or Defending a Domestic Violence Case" Speaker – Austin, Texas
June, 2014: Advanced Criminal Law Seminar (Rusty Duncan); Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association “Don’t Roll The Dice With Your Law License – Ethics in 2014” – Speaker
January, 2014: State Bar of Texas – Sex, Drugs and Surveillance Seminar; Houston, Texas Speaker – 5th Amendment Issues in Family and Criminal Law Cases
September, 2013 – Jury Selection in Intoxication Cases TCDLA – Arlington, Texas
May, 2013: Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals; University of Texas School of Law The Scientific Method and Expert Testimony in Criminal Cases
April, 2013: Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Project – Longview, Texas – Core Issues in the Practice of Law
March, 2013: Texas Criminal Trial College, Huntsville, Texas; Instructor: Jury Selection
December, 2012: Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association - Defense of Persons Accused of Sex Crimes Houston, Texas; Speaker – "Ethics and Criminal Defense"
July, 2012: State Bar of Texas – State Bar College Summer School – Galveston, Texas – Speaker – "Unforeseen Consequences of Criminal Convictions"
March, 2012: Texas Trial College – Huntsville, Texas Instructor – Voir Dire and Opening Statements
December, 2011 – State Bar of Texas – Forensic Science Seminar Speaker: Developments in Fire Science and Arson Cases
September, 2011 – Course Director – Defense of Sexual Assault Cases Austin, Texas – Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; Speaker – Ethics
July, 2011 – Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Board Orientation – South Padre Island, Texas: Faculty "Civil and Criminal Aspects of Family Violence Cases"
April, 2011 – "Art of War" – Trial Tactics Seminar – Waco, Texas – Speaker
March 2011, Texas Trial College - Huntsville, Texas – Faculty and Presenter – Cross Examination Techniques
January, 2011 – University of Texas at Austin, Quest Program Speaker – "Forensic Science Reform in Texas"
November, 2010 – University of Texas School of Law: American Bar Association – Prosecution and Defense Standards Roundtable: Panelist
September, 2010 – "The Art of War – Trial Tactics Seminar" Kerrville, Texas; Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
July, 2010 – Speaker – Ethics and The Practice of Law – Criminal Defense Lawyers‘ Project, South Padre Island, Texas
Adjunct Professor, Criminal Defense Clinic, University of Texas School of Law, (1996-1997)
Faculty/Instructor, Texas Criminal Trial College, Huntsville, Texas, April 2008, March 2009
Family Violence, Civil & Criminal Issues, Texas Criminal Def. Lawyers Seminar, College Station, Texas, 2004
Instructor, Communicating With Juries, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers' Project, Plano, Texas, 2003
Luncheon Speaker, Ethics: Zealous Representation and Other Topics, Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association, 2002
Luncheon Speaker, Criminal Defense Practice and Personal Life, University of Texas Law School, 2001
Moderator and Speaker – State Bar of Texas Advanced Criminal Law Course. 2008 – San Antonio; 2009 – Dallas
Speaker, Ethics & Criminal Law Practice, Austin Christian Legal Society, Austin, Texas, 2001
Course Director, DWI 2001 Seminar, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association
Speaker: Concurrent Family Law Litigation & Criminal Defense Litigation, Dave's Bar Association, Criminal Law Seminar, Oahu, Hawaii, 1999
Speaker, State Bar of Texas, Practice Development Seminar, Dallas, Texas, 1998
Client Relationships, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers' Project, McAllen, Texas, April 1, 2005
Family Violence Cases, Criminal and Civil Aspects, Advanced Criminal Law Course, Lubbock, Texas, January, 2006 and January, 2008
Texas Open Records Act, Criminal Law Issues, Administrative Law Conference, Austin, Texas, September 1, 2005
Operation Texas Freedom, Speaker, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Project, July, 2007
State Administrative Law Conference, "Crimes of Moral Turpitude", Panelist, September, 2007
Course Director, Defending Sex Crimes Involving Children, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association Austin, Texas, September, 2005
Law & Clergy Conference – Austin, Texas, February 2009: Speaker – Criminal Law Issues Concerning Clergy
Innocence Network Conference - Houston, Texas – Speaker/Panelist – Forensic Science Commission, March 2009
May 2009 - Speaker – Indigent Defense Seminar – Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association Dallas, Texas – Civil and Criminal Law Topics
July 2009 – Speaker: The Rules of Evidence – CDLP Seminar, South Padre Island, Texas
December, 2009 – Course Director and Speaker on Ethics – TCDLA Defending Sexual Assault Seminar, Houston, Texas
January, 2010 – Speaker – "Obstacles to Forensics Science Reform" - Sixth Annual National Forensic Science Seminar – San Diego, California
February, 2010 - Speaker - TCDLA President's Retreat, Napa Valley, California; "Civil and Criminal Aspects of Family Violence Cases"
April, 2010 – Keynote Speaker - National Defense Investigators Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada; "Junk Science & An Execution in Texas"
HONORS AND AWARDS:
2018 - Awarded Lawyer of the Year for Criminal Defense by Best Lawyers in America
Recognized as a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine
Recognized as a member of "The Best Lawyers In America"
2010-2013 – Presidential Award – Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
2010 – Ambassador Award – Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
State Bar of Texas Foundation – Fellow – 2012
Travis County Bar Association, Criminal Law and Procedure Section; President (2000-2001)
State Bar of Texas District 9A Grievance Panel; Panel Chair – 2009-2010
Travis County Bar Association; Member
Travis County Bar Association; Board of Directors (2000-2003)
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association; Board of Directors (2002-Present)
Travis County Bar Association, Family Law Section; Member
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; Member
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Member
Williamson County Bar Association; Member
Robert W. Calvert Chapter - American Inns of Court, 1999 - 2001; Member
Travis County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section; Member
Austin Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association; Charter Member
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1992 - 1994 ; Legislative Committee
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Austin, 1990 - 1997; Big Brother
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Austin, 1993 - 1994; Board of Directors
National College of DUI Lawyers, 2005 - Present; Member
Texas Forensic Science Commission, 2005-2009, Member; Chairman – 2007-2009
PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS:
Allison & Bassett, L.L.P., Partner, 1998 - 2001
Allison, Yeager & Bassett, L.L.P., Partner, 1991 - 1998
White & Allison, P.C., Associate, 1988 - 1991
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
December, 2015: "Ethics and the Initial Client Interview"
TCDLA Defense of Sexual Assault Allegations Seminar - Austin, Texas
