Samuel E. Bassett
Austin, Texas
Phone: (512) 476-4873
Fax: (512) 479-8315
Email: sbassett@mbfc.com
rebeccah@mbfc.com (Assistant Rebecca Haddock)
Sam has extensive trial experience since graduating from the University of Texas School of Law in 1988. He has been Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994. He practices primarily criminal and family law in courts throughout Texas. Sam was voted by his peers to be included in The Best Lawyers In America (2010) and holds the highest rating possible by Martindale-Hubbell. Sam is licensed in State and Federal Court. In 2005, the Texas Governor appointed Sam to the Texas Forensic Science Commission, where he served as its Presiding Officer until September 30, 2009. Sam is a frequent instructor at continuing education events for trial lawyers and currently serves on the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee for District 9.
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 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"
Honors and Awards:
- Recognized as a member of "The Best Lawyers In America"
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, 2005-2009, Member; Chairman – 2007-2009
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
