Dunham & Jones Attorney Named TCDLA 2026 Rising Star Award Recipient

Austin, Texas – September 03, 2026 – Dunham & Jones, Attorneys at Law, P.C., a Texas criminal defense law practice operating since 1989, has announced that attorney Jessica Lieck has been selected as a recipient of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) 2026 Rising Star Award. The award, which recognizes attorneys licensed for fewer than ten years who have demonstrated dedicated criminal defense representation and leadership, was presented during the TCDLA Awards Banquet at the 39th Annual Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course in San Antonio, Texas.

The Rising Star Award is presented by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association to attorneys who have shown outstanding commitment to defending the rights of citizens accused of crimes and who have made contributions to the efforts of the Criminal Defense Lawyers Association at the state level. The annual Rusty Duncan course is recognized as one of the premier criminal law conferences in the nation, drawing criminal defense trial attorneys from across Texas and beyond each year.

Jessica Lieck practices criminal defense out of the firm’s Austin, Texas office, where she has built her defense strategy around what she describes as a mitigation-first philosophy. Each case is prepared from the outset with the intensity required for trial, while she works to reduce risk and preserve outcomes before a jury is selected. Her approach reflects a focus on thorough preparation, early intervention, and protecting the long-term interests of her clients.

Lieck graduated summa cum laude from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law with a focus on criminal law and innocence work. During law school, she served two terms as President of the Criminal Law Association and led the Texas Tech chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. She also served as an Advisor on the Diversity Advisory Board and worked as a State Bar of Texas Qualified Law Student in the Criminal Defense Clinic, where she received multiple Top Grade awards.

Her academic record includes recognition in Criminal Defense Clinic, Texas Juvenile Law, and Capital Punishment Seminar coursework. She received the Diversity Student Award and the Pro Bono Achievement Award for completing more than 200 hours of pro bono service during law school. Her research work was published in the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association magazine, Voice for the Defense.

In 2026, Lieck completed the Tim Evans Texas Criminal Trial College, becoming a graduate of one of the premier trial advocacy programs in the state. She has also been named a 2026 Super Lawyers Rising Star. In addition to her TCDLA recognition, she completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Program, the same certification law enforcement officers complete before administering roadside testing, which has informed her cross-examination work in DWI and intoxication cases across Texas.

Lieck remains actively involved with TCDLA, serving on both the New Lawyers Committee and the Law Students Committee. She has been elected to the TCDLA Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 term. She is also a member of the Texas Bar College, an honorary society that recognizes attorneys who voluntarily complete substantially more continuing legal education than the State Bar of Texas requires, and a member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association. She has presented continuing legal education programs on mitigation, client control, and how attorneys can gain second-chair trial experience.

This recognition reflects the firm’s continued investment in criminal defense attorneys who combine academic preparation with courtroom readiness. Dunham & Jones, Attorneys at Law, P.C. has represented clients facing serious criminal charges since 1989, with a team of over 125 attorneys, many of whom are former prosecutors, practicing across 17 offices statewide.

About Dunham & Jones, Attorneys at Law, P.C.

Dunham & Jones, Attorneys at Law, P.C., is a Texas criminal defense firm that has represented clients facing serious criminal charges since 1989. The firm maintains offices in Amarillo, Austin, Bryan/College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Fort Worth, Georgetown, Houston, Killeen/Harker Heights, Lubbock, Midland, Plano, San Antonio, San Marcos, and Waco, and handles a full range of criminal matters, from misdemeanor offenses to complex felony cases.

Media Contact
Company Name: Dunham & Jones, Attorneys at Law, P.C.
Contact Person: Dunham & Jones
Email: Send Email
Phone: 800-499-8455
Address:P.O. Box 684666
City: Austin
State: Texas 78768
Country: United States
Website: https://www.dunhamlaw.com/

Press Release Distributed by ABNewswire.com

To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Dunham & Jones Attorney Named TCDLA 2026 Rising Star Award Recipient