Find a Lawyer in Austin
Browse vetted attorneys and law firms across Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, San Marcos, and the Texas Hill Country.
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Attorneys & Law Firms in Austin
Browse attorneys and law firms in Austin and the surrounding Central Texas area. All listed professionals have been reviewed through our editorial process. Featured listings include established Austin advocates such as business and real estate attorney Kara O'Shaughnessy. Our Austin directory is actively growing to connect consumers across all primary legal fields.
MyLegalWin selections are made through a documented research process. Read how selections work →
For First-Time Clients
How to Choose a Lawyer in Austin
If you've never hired an attorney before, the process can feel overwhelming. Here's what to look for, what to ask, and what to watch out for.
What to Look For
When evaluating an attorney in the Austin area, focus on three things:
Experience with your type of case
A lawyer specializing in corporate transactions or real estate may not be suited for a personal injury or criminal matter. Ask how many cases like yours they've handled in the past year and whether they routinely litigate cases in Travis County courts.
Years practicing in Texas
Texas legal procedures, filing statutes, and local court rules differ from other states. An attorney licensed in Texas who regularly practices in Travis or Williamson County courts will understand local judicial preferences and court procedures.
A clean disciplinary record
You can check any Texas attorney's disciplinary history through the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com. Look for any history of suspensions, reprimands, or public sanctions.
Questions to Ask in a Consultation
Most Austin attorneys offer an initial consultation. Use it to ask:
- 1.How many cases like mine have you handled in the last year?
- 2.What was the outcome of your most recent case like mine?
- 3.Will you be handling my case personally, or will it be passed to an associate or paralegal?
- 4.What’s your fee structure — contingency, hourly, or flat fee? What percentage or rate?
- 5.What costs will I be responsible for even if we win (filing fees, expert witnesses, court costs)?
- 6.How long do you expect my case to take?
- 7.What’s the likelihood of settling vs. going to trial?
How Legal Fees Work
Contingency fee
The attorney gets paid a percentage of your recovery only if you win. Common in personal injury cases. Typical range in Texas: 33% if settled prior to litigation, 40% if a lawsuit or trial is required. You may still be responsible for case costs \u2014 ask which costs are separate from the fee.
Hourly rate
You pay for the attorney's time, usually billed in 6-minute or 15-minute increments. Common in business law, real estate litigation, family law, and contract disputes. In Austin, hourly rates typically range from $300 to $550 per hour depending on attorney experience. Ask for hourly rates for all working staff and request a projected budget.
Flat fee
One set price for the entire matter. Common for business formation, simple wills, uncontested divorces, and specific criminal defense charges (such as a first DWI). In Austin, business formation flat fees range from $1,000 to $3,500, first DWI defense fees range from $2,500 to $7,500, and basic estate plans range from $500 to $2,500. Ask what services are included and what triggers extra costs.
Red Flags
Guaranteed outcomes
No attorney can legally or ethically guarantee a specific case outcome or dollar settlement. Walk away from anyone making guarantee claims.
Pressure to sign immediately
A reputable lawyer will grant you time to evaluate the agreement. Avoid high-pressure sales tactics.
Won't put fees in writing
Every fee structure must be clearly set forth in a written representation agreement before work begins.
Can't explain the process
A good lawyer can explain the legal steps, timeline, and expectations in plain, clear language.
Verify an Attorney's License
Before hiring any attorney in Texas, verify their license status and disciplinary history through the State Bar of Texas attorney search at texasbar.com. Search by name or bar number to confirm active standing.
Find a Lawyer
Common Legal Needs in Austin
Browse attorneys by practice area. Each section explains what an attorney in this field does, what to expect, and how long you have to file under Texas law.
Business Law & Real Estate
If you are founding a startup, drafting commercial leases, purchasing real estate, or resolving a contract dispute, a business and real estate attorney protects your commercial and property rights.
What to expect
For business, your attorney will establish LLCs or corporations, draft partnership agreements, and review vendor contracts. For real estate, your attorney will conduct title reviews, draft purchase agreements, and resolve boundary or lease disputes. Local practitioners like Kara O’Shaughnessy handle commercial transactions and corporate disputes.
How long you have to file
Texas uses different limitations periods depending on the cause of action. Many contract claims use a four-year period, while property-damage and other claims may use different periods. Confirm the theory and accrual date for the specific dispute.
How fees work
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Personal Injury
Note: Our Austin directory is actively expanding in this practice area.
If you’ve been injured in a car crash on I-35, a motorcycle collision, or a slip and fall, a personal injury attorney helps you recover compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
What to expect
Your attorney will collect police reports, gather medical records, negotiate with insurance adjusters, and file suit in Travis County District Court if the insurance company fails to make a reasonable settlement offer.
How long you have to file
Texas generally applies a two-year limitations period to personal-injury actions under Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 16.003. Health-care liability, government, minor, and other claims can follow different rules or notice requirements.
How fees work
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Family Law & Divorce
Note: Our Austin directory is actively expanding in this practice area.
If you are facing a divorce, child custody matter, or spousal maintenance issue in Central Texas, a family law attorney guides you through court proceedings and protects your parental rights.
What to expect
Texas divides community property acquired during marriage in a “just and right” equitable manner. Your attorney will represent you in the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility to negotiate property division, conservatorship, and child support.
How long you have to file
You must be a Texas resident for at least 6 months and a Travis County resident for at least 90 days prior to filing. Texas imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period after filing before a divorce decree can be finalized.
How fees work
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Criminal Defense
Note: Our Austin directory is actively expanding in this practice area.
If you have been arrested or charged with an offense in Travis or Williamson County — from a DWI to a felony — a criminal defense attorney defends your rights and handles negotiations with local prosecutors.
What to expect
Your lawyer will inspect arrest records, contest breathalyzer/blood test validity, file suppression motions, and represent you in court. Criminal cases in Austin are heard at the Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center.
How long you have to file
There is no deadline for a defendant to hire counsel — but early legal representation is critical to secure video evidence and negotiate bail terms.
How fees work
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Estate Planning & Probate
Note: Our Austin directory is actively expanding in this practice area.
If you need a will, trust, medical power of attorney, or assistance probating a relative’s estate, an estate planning attorney ensures legal compliance under Texas estate codes.
What to expect
Your lawyer will draft custom wills, revocable living trusts, and advance directives. For probate, your lawyer will file the estate in Travis County Probate Court, notify creditors, and distribute remaining assets to beneficiaries.
How long you have to file
Texas probate deadlines can depend on the estate, the instrument, and procedural posture. A will generally should be offered for probate promptly, and special rules can apply after four years.
How fees work
Fees vary by lawyer, matter, and agreement. Ask whether billing is contingency, hourly, flat-fee, retainer, statutory, or another structure, and how case costs are handled.
Texas Law
What to Know About Texas Law
Key legal rules governing civil, business, and criminal matters in Austin and across Texas.
Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations sets a filing deadline, but accrual, notice, tolling, and repose rules can change the date for a specific claim.
| Type of Case | Texas Deadline |
|---|---|
| Personal injury (car accidents, slip & fall) | 2 years from date of injury |
| Medical malpractice | Generally 2 years under CPRC § 74.251; 10-year repose |
| Property damage | 2 years from damage date |
| Breach of written contract | 4 years from breach date |
| Breach of oral contract | 4 years from breach date |
| Fraud / Real Estate Fraud | 4 years from discovery date |
| Wrongful death | 2 years from date of death |
Damage Caps
Texas statutory damage limits:
Medical malpractice
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 74.301 caps noneconomic damages at $250,000 per claimant against all physicians and individual health-care providers collectively. A separate $250,000 limit can apply to each health-care institution, with no more than two institutional limits; the statutory structure can therefore produce a maximum of $750,000 in noneconomic damages across those categories. Economic damages are not capped by § 74.301.
General personal injury & contract claims
No caps on non-economic or economic damages.
Punitive damages
Capped at the greater of $200,000 OR two times economic damages plus up to $750,000 in non-economic damages.
Community Property
Texas is a community property state. Under Texas law:
- •Assets and obligations acquired during marriage are community property shared by both spouses.
- •In a divorce, community assets are divided equitably (“just and right”), not strictly 50/50.
- •Separate property acquired before marriage, or received via gift or inheritance, remains separate.
At-Fault Auto Insurance
Texas is an at-fault insurance jurisdiction. The party responsible for causing a motor vehicle collision is financially liable for all injuries and losses. Claims are submitted directly against the at-fault driver's carrier.
Court System
Where Your Case Will Be Heard in Austin
Travis County Courts
Civil and Family Courts: Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility, 1700 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78701. Handles civil litigation, breach of contract, real estate disputes, divorce, and child custody.
Criminal Courts: Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center, 509 W. 11th St., Austin, TX 78701. Handles misdemeanor and felony criminal prosecutions in Travis County.
Federal Courts
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas (Austin Division): Handles federal lawsuits, constitutional claims, and federal criminal charges. Located at the United States Courthouse, 501 W. 5th St., Austin, TX 78701.
Western District of Texas →Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court: Located in Austin at the Supreme Court Building, 201 W. 14th St., Austin, TX 78701. As the state capital, Austin is home to the Supreme Court of Texas, which serves as the ultimate judicial authority for civil litigation across the entire state.
Texas Supreme Court →Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Austin Legal Resources
State Bar of Texas — Attorney Search
License and disciplinary verification
Travis County Courts Portal
Official court information and case access
Austin Bar Association
Local lawyer referral and community resources
U.S. District Court — Western District of Texas
Austin federal courthouse
Texas Supreme Court
Official portal for the highest civil court in Texas (located in Austin)
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Official portal for the highest criminal court in Texas (located in Austin)
Coverage Area