Sam Bassett has extensive trial experience in criminal and family courts throughout Texas. He has tried jury trials throughout Texas for over 33 years. Sam is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law (1988) and the University of Texas School of Business (1985, high honors). Sam has been board certified in criminal law since 1994. He has been a Texas Super Lawyer for over 17 years. He has also been recognized in Best Lawyers In America, a peer publication, for many years. In 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and again in 2023, Sam was named “Lawyer of the Year” for criminal defense in Austin by Best Lawyers In America. He holds the highest ratings for practice and ethics in Martindale-Hubbell. Sam handles criminal, family, Title IX, and professional ethics cases for attorneys.
Sam is a former President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association and presently serves on the Board of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Educational Institute. He is a long-time faculty member of the Texas Criminal Trial College (Huntsville, Texas) and is a past President of the Travis County Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Division. He is a member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar. From 2005 until 2009, Sam served as Chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission and was nominated by the Dallas Morning News for “Texan of the Year” for his service. Sam frequently teaches criminal law, family law and ethics at continuing education events for lawyers and for judges. Sam is a former Grievance Committee Member and chair for the District 9 Grievance Committee of the State Bar.
Sam grew up in San Antonio and is a proud graduate of MacArthur H.S. He is married to Jennifer Bassett and has two adult children and enjoys time with them. He also enjoys golf, working at his ranch near San Antonio, fitness/boxing and devotes time to charitable causes. He is Trustee of the Orr Family Foundation.
- Criminal Defense
- Family Law
- Board Certified, Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1994
- 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
- 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
- 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”
- 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
- 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
- Allison & Bassett, L.L.P., Partner, 1998 – 2001
- Allison, Yeager & Bassett, L.L.P., Partner, 1991 – 1998
- White & Allison, P.C., Associate, 1988 – 1991
- December, 2015: “Ethics and the Initial Client Interview”
- TCDLA Defense of Sexual Assault Allegations Seminar – Austin, Texas
