Austin · Criminal Defense Guide
Travis County presumes you qualify for a free lawyer if your household earns less than $43,808 a year, a line most Austin roundups never mention. We compared three criminal defense attorneys in Austin on State Bar of Texas records, board certification, the charges each one actually takes, published fee terms and verified Google reviews, and set out who each suits and where each falls short.
DJA Editorial · Legal Directory Research
Checked against state bar licensee records, court sources and public review platforms · Last updated September 2026
The short answer
Three Austin practices, each leading for a different kind of charge. This is a shortlist, not a ranking: the firm in the top slot is neither the highest rated nor the only one with board certification.
1
Peek Law GroupFeatured
Best for a charge that could affect immigration status
2
The Law Office of Kevin Bennett
Best for a Travis County DWI
3
Bristol C. Myers
Best for a serious felony or federal charge
At a glance: Criminal Defense Attorneys in Austin, compared
| Firm |
Best for |
Focus |
Bar record |
Fees |
Rating |
| Peek Law Group |
Best for a charge that could affect immigration status |
Criminal and immigration, state and federal |
Jeff Peek, Texas 2000 |
Flat or hourly, payment plans |
4.7 · 595 Google |
| The Law Office of Kevin Bennett |
Best for a Travis County DWI |
Travis County criminal cases, DWI heavy |
Kevin Bennett, Texas 2007 |
Free consultation, payment plans |
5.0 · 622 Google |
| Bristol C. Myers |
Best for a serious felony or federal charge |
Felony and federal trial work |
Bristol Myers, Texas 1999, board certified |
Staged fixed fee or hourly |
4.9 · 22 Google |
Criminal Defense in Austin: the local picture
$400
What Travis County pays to resolve a misdemeanor
When the county appoints a lawyer, it pays a flat $400 to resolve a misdemeanor by plea, dismissal or diversion, $75 an hour on hourly misdemeanor work and $85 to $155 an hour on felonies. Retained fees run well above that, and none of the three firms below publishes a dollar figure, so ask for the number in writing.
15 days
To save your license after an Austin DWI arrest
A failed or refused breath or blood test starts a separate license case alongside the criminal charge. DPS must receive your written hearing request within 15 days of the notice the officer hands you. Miss it and the suspension starts automatically about 40 days after that notice, whatever later happens to the DWI itself.
$43,808
Household income under which a free lawyer is presumed
Travis County presumes indigence below the MIT living wage figure: $43,808 a year for a single person, $75,853 with one dependent. Receiving SNAP, Medicaid, TANF or public housing, or sitting in jail unable to post bond for 7 business days, also qualifies. Counsel must be appointed by the end of the first working day after your request reaches court administration.
What clients in Austin say: Read side by side, the Google reviews for these three split cleanly by the kind of case. Kevin Bennett’s reviewers are overwhelmingly DWI clients, Bristol Myers’s describe felonies and federal cases, and Peek Law Group’s are often relatives of someone held by ICE or charged while undocumented. What reviewers praise is the same at all three: being told the timeline and the fee before signing, then hearing back. The only recurring complaint we found, cases going quiet, came from the largest firm.
How we chose these Criminal Defense Attorneys in Austin
We looked at practices defending criminal cases in Austin and compared them on things a reader can check: the State Bar of Texas record for the lead attorney, Texas Board of Legal Specialization certification and the area it covers, the charges each firm actually lists, whether fee terms are published, and the visible text of Google reviews rather than the star average alone.
The three appear as a shortlist in the order supplied, not a ranking. Firm details come from each firm’s own site, cross checked against State Bar of Texas profiles, Google Business Profile listings and third party directories, and the local cost, deadline and appointed counsel figures come from the Travis County Fair Defense Plan and the Texas Transportation Code. Anything we could not confirm during this update is flagged on the page, and results a firm publishes about itself are labelled as its own figures.
1. Peek Law GroupFeatured
Best for a charge that could affect immigration status
★★★★½ 4.7 / 5 · Google · 595 reviews
The pick when a criminal charge could also put someone’s immigration status at risk. Peek Law Group runs criminal defense and immigration as two departments in one East Austin firm, and founder Jeff Peek is board certified in immigration and nationality law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. For families looking for Austin criminal defense attorneys who can explain, in Spanish, what a plea would mean for a green card or a pending immigration case, this is the only firm on the list set up to answer both questions at once.
Identity and footprint
Office1406 Waller St, Austin, TX 78702
Phone(512) 474-4445
Second Austin office1214 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702, (512) 996-6470
FounderJeff Peek, who founded the firm in 2010 after practising as Evans & Peek from 2003
Named attorneysJeff Peek, Diego Nuñez Astorga, Natalia Chavez, Andrea Jarero, Angela Barajas Salcido, Polet Garza, Tania Heitz
Other officeSan Antonio
LanguagesEnglish and Spanish, with a full Spanish-language site; the firm markets itself in Spanish as Los Abogados Güeros
HoursWeekdays 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Practice and scope
Core workCriminal defense and immigration, as two departments in the same firm
Criminal case pagesDWI, drug possession and trafficking, drug conspiracy, domestic violence, theft, violent crimes, white collar and fraud, misdemeanors, jail release, expungement
CourtsState and federal; the firm lists Travis, Hays and Williamson counties
Post-convictionExpunctions, orders of nondisclosure and early release from probation
Firm claimsStates it has handled tens of thousands of cases. This is the firm’s own figure and cannot be checked independently.
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of TexasJeffrey Alan Peek, bar card 24027727, licensed November 1, 2000, eligible to practise; lists criminal, international and immigration practice
Federal courtU.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
Board certificationJeff Peek: Immigration and Nationality Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This is not a criminal law certification.
Law schoolSt. Mary’s University School of Law, 2000; BA, University of Texas at Austin
Criminal attorneyAndrea Jarero, listed by the firm as its criminal lawyer
MembershipsAmerican Immigration Lawyers Association, Austin Bar Association, American Bar Association
Directory listingJeff Peek holds a Distinguished Justice Advocates listing
Fees and consultation
StructureFlat fees for some matters, hourly for complex cases
Payment plansOffered, and the firm states it gives upfront cost estimates
ConsultationDescribed as confidential; the site does not say whether it is free, so ask before booking
AmountsNot published
What clients say
✓ Attorneys named personally
✓ Help for families facing ICE detention
✓ Clients who return for years
✗ One account of a case left idle for a year
✗ One account of calls not returned
· Rating mixes immigration and criminal clients
The Google reviews read as much like immigration reviews as criminal ones. Reviewers name attorneys directly, especially Natalia Chavez and Jeff Peek, and several describe relatives released from ICE detention. Against that, one long-time client describes a fully paid case sitting untouched for a year, and a reviewer on the smaller East 7th listing describes paying for a consultation and then not getting calls returned. Two accounts, not a pattern, but worth raising.
Why they fit Austin: The clearest fit for a noncitizen charged with a crime, or a family with a criminal case and an immigration case running at the same time, because both departments sit in one firm and intake runs in Spanish. The honest trade off: criminal defense is half of what this firm does, its large Google rating pools immigration and criminal clients, and Jeff Peek’s board certification is in immigration rather than criminal law. Ask which attorney will handle your criminal file, whether the first consultation is charged, and how often you will hear from that attorney.
2. The Law Office of Kevin Bennett
Best for a Travis County DWI
★★★★★ 5.0 / 5 · Google · 622 reviews
A one lawyer practice that takes criminal cases in Travis County only and spends much of its time on DWI. Kevin Bennett’s site carries separate pages on the license hearing, blood and breath testing, felony DWI and the Travis County DWI Court program, and he states that he handles every file himself and takes no court appointments. Anyone looking for an Austin DWI defense lawyer who wants the same attorney from the first call to the last hearing is the client this practice is built around.
Identity and footprint
Office1411 West Ave, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78701
Phone(512) 476-4626, with an attorney on call around the clock
Office visitsBy appointment only; consultations also offered by phone or video
AttorneyKevin Bennett, founding and only attorney
Service areaAustin and Travis County only, by the firm’s own policy
Location noteSame building as Bristol C. Myers, entry 3 on this list, one floor apart
Practice and scope
Core workCriminal defense only
DWI pagesLicense hearing, blood and breath tests, first, second and felony DWI, boating while intoxicated, commercial drivers, underage DWI, Travis County DWI Court
Other case pagesFamily violence, drug and marijuana charges, sex crimes, weapons, theft, probation violations, student defense, expunctions and record sealing
Caseload policyStates he limits his caseload, handles every case personally and takes no court appointed cases
Published resultsFirm’s own examples include a second DWI dismissed after a motion to suppress was granted and a felony weapon charge from the Austin airport dismissed
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of TexasKevin Matthew Bennett, bar card 24059445, licensed November 2, 2007, eligible to practise; lists criminal practice only
Federal courtU.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
Law schoolSouth Texas College of Law, 2007; BA in economics, University of Texas at Austin
Board certificationNone listed on his firm biography
RecognitionElected a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation in 2017
MembershipsTexas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, National College for DUI Defense, DUI Defense Lawyers Association, NORML
Fees and consultation
ConsultationFree, one on one with Kevin Bennett
Payment plansOffered
Structure and amountsNot published
Review noteReviewers mention being told the fee upfront and no hidden fees; that is their account, not a published policy
What clients say
✓ DWI clients, start to finish
✓ Fees and timelines explained upfront
✓ Payment plans mentioned
✓ Treated as a person, not a file
· No negative text in reviews we read
Nearly every review we could read is from a DWI client, and two describe the case ending in dismissal. Reviewers say he explained timelines and fees before they signed and kept them updated, and more than one mentions a payment plan. We saw no negative review in the text available to us; at 622 reviews, read past the first page yourself.
Why they fit Austin: The strongest fit here for a Travis County DWI, where the 15 day license deadline, blood and breath evidence and the county’s DWI Court program decide more than courtroom speeches, and where a solo attorney who takes only local criminal cases knows the courthouse. Go in knowing the limits: he takes cases in Travis County only, so a Williamson or Hays County charge needs someone else, he lists no board certification, and one lawyer has finite room if a case becomes a long felony trial. His site’s claim to be the city’s most reviewed defense firm is his own. Ask for the fee and payment plan in writing at the free consultation.
3. Bristol C. Myers
Best for a serious felony or federal charge
★★★★½ 4.9 / 5 · Google · 22 reviews
The one attorney on this list board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and the one whose published work leans hardest toward felony trials and federal court. Bristol Myers has defended cases in Austin since 1999, has never worked as a prosecutor, and lists trial work ranging from DWI to capital murder and securities fraud. For anyone who needs a board certified criminal defense attorney in Austin because the charge is a serious felony or a federal indictment, this is the place to start.
Identity and footprint
Office1411 West Ave, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78701
Phone512-478-2100
FirmBristol C. Myers, P.C., a solo practice
HoursWeekdays 9 AM to 5 PM
Service areaTravis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop counties and federal court across the Western District of Texas
LanguagesNo language service listed on the site or bar profile
Practice and scope
Core workCriminal defense only, state and federal
Trial experience listedCapital murder, securities fraud, money laundering, firearm smuggling, sexual assault, aggravated assault, obstruction of justice, DWI, family violence and drug cases
Other workDefence of professional licences before state agencies, per his Avvo profile
ApproachStates he prepares every case as if it will be tried and that a significant number reach the jury docket each year
Published resultsFirm’s own example: a jury punishment verdict of 5 years, the minimum, on an aggravated assault after a 25 year plea offer
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of TexasBristol C. Myers, bar card 24009734, licensed November 3, 1999, eligible to practise; lists criminal practice only
Board certificationCriminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, since 2008; shown on his State Bar profile
Federal courtsU.S. Supreme Court, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Western and Southern Districts of Texas
Law schoolValparaiso University School of Law, 1999
OtherTexas Bar College member; NACDL, TCDLA and Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association member since 1999
Fees and consultation
ConsultationNo fee at his office; a fee applies to consultations at the jail or elsewhere
Fixed feesUsed for most misdemeanors and common felonies, split into a pre-trial amount and a separate amount charged only if the case is set for trial
HourlyUsed for pre-charge investigations and complex cases, against a deposit held in his trust account with monthly accounting and any balance refunded
ExpensesInvestigators, experts and transcripts are billed separately and are not part of a fixed fee
AmountsRates not published
What clients say
✓ Serious felony and federal cases
✓ Responsive during the case
✓ Past clients writing years later
· Only 22 reviews
The reviews we read are about heavy cases: a murder and theft charge resolved with probation, a federal offense sentenced below the guideline range, a client given a second chance at 18 who writes back a decade later. Reviewers call him responsive and composed. At 22 reviews this is a thin sample, and the outcomes are the reviewers’ own accounts, not verified results.
Why they fit Austin: The right call for a felony with real prison exposure or a federal case in the Western District of Texas, where board certification in criminal law, federal appellate admission and a stated readiness to try cases matter most. The trade off is scale and visibility: this is a solo practice with 22 Google reviews, rates are not published, no Spanish language service is listed, and he prefers to meet in person, with a fee for jail consultations. Ask for the pre-trial and trial stages of the fixed fee separately so you know the full cost if the case is tried.
What to check before hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney in Austin
✓ Look up the licence yourself
The State Bar of Texas Find a Lawyer search is free and shows the licence date, current status and public grievance history. Search the individual attorney who will handle your case, not the firm name. None of the three firms prints a bar number on its site, so this step is on you.
✓ Check what the board certification actually covers
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies lawyers by area, and a certification in one area says nothing about another. On this list, Bristol Myers is certified in criminal law and Jeff Peek in immigration and nationality law. Confirm the area on the TBLS site before relying on a badge.
✓ Ask what happens to the fee if the case goes to trial
A flat fee that covers a plea or a dismissal often does not cover a jury trial. Ask whether the quoted fee has a separate trial stage, whether investigators and experts are billed on top, and whether an hourly deposit is refundable. Bristol Myers publishes this structure; the other two do not.
✓ After a DWI arrest, request the license hearing within 15 days
The license case runs separately from the criminal charge and has its own clock. DPS must receive the request within 15 days of the notice you were handed. Confirm at the first call that the lawyer will file it, and keep proof that it went in.
✓ Find out who will stand up in court
At a solo practice the attorney you meet is the attorney in court. At a multi-lawyer firm it may be someone else. Ask for the name of the lawyer assigned to your case and check that person’s bar record too.
✓ If you are not a U.S. citizen, ask about immigration before any plea
A plea that looks minor in state court can carry immigration consequences, and defense counsel is required to advise noncitizen clients about deportation risk. Ask directly how the proposed plea affects your status and whether an immigration lawyer has reviewed it.
Criminal Defense Attorneys in Austin: frequently asked questions
How much does a criminal defense attorney cost in Austin?
None of the three firms here publishes a dollar amount. For scale, Travis County pays appointed lawyers a flat $400 to resolve a misdemeanor and $85 to $155 an hour on felonies, and retained fees run above that. Expect a flat fee for most misdemeanors and common felonies, often with a separate charge if the case is tried, and hourly billing for complex or federal cases.
Do I qualify for a court appointed lawyer in Travis County?
Possibly, and at a higher income than many people expect. Travis County presumes indigence when household income is under the MIT living wage figure, $43,808 a year for one person or $75,853 with one dependent, or when you receive SNAP, Medicaid, TANF or public housing, or have been unable to post bond for 7 business days. Ask the magistrate or pretrial services for the indigence application; a qualifying defendant gets a lawyer at no cost, and the county’s Public Defender’s Office gets priority on appointments.
What is the 15 day deadline after an Austin DWI arrest?
It is the deadline to request an administrative license revocation hearing. If you failed or refused a breath or blood test, DPS must receive your written request within 15 days of the notice the officer gave you, or your license suspension starts automatically about 40 days after that notice. The hearing is separate from the criminal case and can go ahead even if the DWI is later dismissed.
What happens if I miss a court date in Travis County?
Expect a warrant and possibly a new charge. Under Texas law, knowingly failing to appear after release is bail jumping: a Class A misdemeanor when the original charge is a jailable misdemeanor and a third degree felony when the original charge is a felony. A reasonable excuse is a defense, but raise it through a lawyer immediately rather than waiting to be picked up.
Does board certification in criminal law matter?
It is one verifiable signal. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization requires substantial criminal trial and appellate experience, peer and judicial references, continuing education and a written exam, with recertification every five years. It is not required to practise and does not guarantee an outcome. On this list only Bristol Myers holds it in criminal law.
Can a criminal charge in Austin affect my immigration status?
Yes. Some convictions, and some pleas that do not count as convictions under Texas law, can still create problems for visa holders, green card holders and people without status. Your defense lawyer must tell you if a plea carries deportation risk, but a firm with immigration lawyers in house, such as Peek Law Group, can review the plea before you accept it.
DJA Editorial
Legal Directory Research
Compiles Distinguished Justice Advocates city guides from state bar licensee records, court and statute sources, and publicly visible client reviews. Firms appear as a shortlist rather than a ranking. Figures a firm publishes about itself are labelled as such, and anything that could not be verified is flagged on the page rather than estimated.
