Lawyers in Texas

Finding a lawyer in Texas

Texas has very different legal markets: large firms in Houston, Dallas and Austin, mid-sized practices in San Antonio, Fort Worth and El Paso, and solo attorneys who cover several rural counties at once. The right lawyer for you depends less on the size of the firm and more on whether they regularly handle your type of case in the courts where it will be heard.

This directory groups Texas law firms by city and by practice area. Pick the area that matches your problem, narrow the list to your part of the state, then use the steps below to check each attorney's license and ask the right questions before you hire.

When you need a lawyer (and when you may not)

Some situations almost always call for a Texas attorney: an arrest or criminal charge, a serious injury in a crash or at work, a divorce with children or property involved, a deportation case, or a lawsuit filed against you. Deadlines in Texas are set by state law and can be short, so speak to a lawyer soon after the problem starts.

Other matters are often handled alone. Texas justice courts hear small claims cases, and many people bring or defend those themselves. If you are not sure, many Texas firms offer a free or low-cost first consultation, and a short call can tell you whether you need one.

Common practice areas in Texas

• Personal Injury and Car Accident — represent people hurt through someone else's negligence, including trucking and rideshare crashes, and deal with insurers on their behalf.
• Family & Divorce — divorce, custody and visitation, child support, adoption and protective orders in Texas family courts.
• Criminal Defense and DUI & DWI — defend people charged with misdemeanors and felonies; in Texas the drunk-driving offense is called DWI, and it also carries separate driver's license consequences.
• Immigration — a federal practice area covering visas, green cards, citizenship, asylum and removal defense, a large field in Texas because of the border and its international workforce.
• Bankruptcy and Social Security Disability — federal matters; the lawyer files in federal court or with the federal agency and explains which path fits you.
• Estate Planning & Probate — wills, trusts, powers of attorney and the probate process after a death.
• Real Estate, Business and Employment — property deals and disputes, contracts and company formation, wage and discrimination claims.
• Workers' Compensation — Texas is unusual in that private employers can opt out of the state system, so a lawyer here often first works out which rules apply to your injury.
• Medical Malpractice, Tax, Intellectual Property, Civil Rights and Traffic Ticket lawyers round out the Texas listings.

How to check a lawyer's license in Texas

Every attorney who practices law in Texas must be licensed by the State Bar of Texas. The bar keeps a public online directory where you can look up an attorney by name or bar number and see whether the license is active and eligible to practice, along with any public disciplinary history.

Look for two things: an active status in good standing, and a disciplinary record you are comfortable with after asking the lawyer about it. If someone offering legal services does not appear in the directory at all, do not hire them.

How to choose a law firm

Ask how much of the firm's work is in your practice area and how often they appear in the county where your case will be heard. A lawyer who handles divorces in Harris County every week will know the local judges and procedures better than one who mostly does something else.

Find out who will actually handle your case. In many firms the attorney you meet first hands the file to an associate or paralegal, so ask who is responsible and how to reach them.

Understand fees before you sign. Injury cases are usually taken on a contingency fee, a share of any recovery. Family, criminal and business matters are more often billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask which expenses are extra and get the agreement in writing.

Questions to ask at the first consultation

• How many cases like mine have you handled recently, and how did they end?
• Which court or agency will my matter go to, and how familiar are you with it?
• Who at the firm will do the day-to-day work on my case?
• How do you charge, what costs are extra, and can I get that in writing?
• What are the realistic outcomes, good and bad?
• What deadlines apply to my situation, and how soon do we need to act?
• How will you keep me updated, and how quickly do you respond?

Free and low-cost legal help

The State Bar of Texas runs a Lawyer Referral & Information Service that connects callers with attorneys who offer a reduced-fee first consultation. Legal aid organizations serve low-income Texans in civil matters such as housing, family and benefits cases, and TexasLawHelp.org publishes free self-help guides and court forms. Law schools around the state run clinics where supervised students take certain cases. In a criminal case, a person who cannot afford a lawyer may ask the court to appoint one.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed Texas attorney about your situation.