Austin, Texas
Phone: (512) 476-4873
Fax: (512) 479-8315
Email: sbassett@mbfc.com
rebeccah@mbfc.com (Assistant Rebecca Haddock)
Sam has been trying cases in front of Central Texas judges and juries since he graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1988. Sam is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and focuses his practice primarily on criminal and family law. He holds the highest rating possible by Martindale-Hubbell. In 2006, Governor Perry appointed Sam to the Texas Forensics Science Commission.
Year Joined Organization:
- 2001
Areas of Practice:
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:
- 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 & Speaker, 2008 Advanced Criminal Law Course, State Bar of Texas, San Antonio
- 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
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Travis County Bar Association, Criminal Law and Procedure Section ; President (2000-2001)
- State Bar of Texas District 9A Grievance Panel ; Member (2004 - Present)
- 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, 2006 - Present ; Governor's Appointee/Member
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