Jessica Lieck, Austin Criminal Attorney

Jessica Lieck is a criminal defense attorney with Dunham & Jones, practicing out of the firm's Austin office. She has built her practice around a mitigation-first philosophy. Every case is prepared from day one with the intensity and rigor required for trial, while she works behind the scenes to reduce risk and preserve options long before a jury is ever picked.

Jessica 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, where she focused her studies on criminal law and innocence work. During law school she served two terms as President of the Criminal Law Association, led the Texas Tech chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, advised on the Diversity Advisory Board, served as a State Bar Qualified Law Student in the Criminal Defense Clinic, worked as a research assistant, and was a member of the Student Bar Association.

Her academic record was recognized with multiple "Top Grade" awards in Criminal Defense Clinic, Texas Juvenile Law, and Capital Punishment Seminar. Jessica received the Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP Diversity Scholarship, the Criminal Law Association Scholarship, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Education Institute Charles Butts Scholarship, and the Brendan and Brian Murray Criminal Defense Endowed Scholarship. She was also honored with the Diversity Student Award for her commitment to advancing diversity at Texas Tech and within the profession, and with the Pro Bono Achievement Award for completing more than 200 hours of pro bono service. Her work as a research assistant was published in the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association magazine, Voice for the Defense, in the article "Safeguards to Prevent Juveniles from Incompetent Representation" (2022).

In 2024, Jessica completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Program, the same certification course law enforcement officers complete before administering roadside testing. That training has sharpened her cross-examination of arresting officers in DWI and intoxication cases. In 2026, she became a graduate of the TCDLA Tim Evans Texas Criminal Trial College and was named a TCDLA Rising Star, an award presented at the annual Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course in San Antonio. She has also been recognized as a 2026 Super Lawyers Rising Star. Jessica has presented at continuing legal education programs on topics including mitigation strategy, client control, and how young attorneys can earn second-chair trial experience.

In addition to the state courts of Texas, Jessica is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and the immigration courts of the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

Jessica is actively involved with the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA), where she serves as Vice Chair of both the New Lawyers Committee and the Law Students Committee and sits on the Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 term. She is also a member of the Texas Bar College, an honorary society that recognizes Texas attorneys who voluntarily complete substantially more continuing legal education than the State Bar requires, and a member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association.

Outside of her practice, Jessica enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Linus and Wyatt, and her three nephews, Micah, Maddox, and Kingston. She is a devoted Taylor Swift fan, loves binge-watching true crime documentaries, and can often be found relaxing by the pool.

Jessica Lieck, Attorney at Law