"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." -- Douglas Adams
This quote, from the author of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and many episodes of Doctor Who, aptly describes John's life. John was born and raised in Bellville, graduating from Bellville High School in 1976.
John then attended the University of Texas at Austin. After what seemed a very short 5 years, he graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Pharmacy. For the next 11 years, John practiced pharmacy, living in Dallas, Austin and Houston. In 1992, seeking a new direction, John applied to, and was accepted by South Texas College of Law.
John finished Law School in 1996 and passed the bar exam, becoming licensed to practice law in January of 1997. In 1998, John returned to Bellville to establish his practice.
The adage is that a small town lawyer does everything and this certainly applies to John's practice. However, over the years, John gravitated to a practice centered on Criminal Defense, Real Estate and Probate/Guardianship work. He joined the indigent defense teams in Austin and Waller Counties and held that position until 2020. John now practices primarily in the areas of Criminal Defense, Probate, Estate Planning, Guardianships, Elder Law, Social Security Disability and Real Estate Law.
Representing indigent defendants gave John extensive courtroom experience. John has lost count of how many trials he has conducted, but he thinks he's won more than he's lost. And the successful trial outcomes have led to a rapport with local prosecutors, who know that if John wants to try something, they are likely to lose. The upshot is that John is able to negotiate the most favorable outcomes for his clients that are available.
In 2008, John entered into partnership with Jerry Scheff. Jerry brought expertise in Taxation, advanced Estate Planning, Probate litigation and Civil Litigation to the practice. The partnership is going strong and growing daily.