Atty. Shane Peter Phelps
College Station Criminal Defense Lawyer As founder of Shane Phelps Law, Bryan/College Station criminal defense attorney Shane Phelps has a reputation as a leading trial lawyer in the Central Texas area. With decades of experience as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney, Shane has tried more than 250 jury trials, everything from DWI to Capital Murder.
Criminal Defense & More Attorney · Serving Bryan, TX · 39+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Shane Peter Phelps at a Glance
Shane Peter Phelps is a The Law Office of Shane Phelps, P.C. based in Bryan, Texas, practicing at The Law Office of Shane Phelps, P.C.. They have 39+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1987. Their practice focuses on dui/dwi, drug crimes, personal injury, criminal defense, and family law. Admitted to practice in Texas (1987), U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit Texas Southern District/Bankruptcy Court Texas Western District (1995), United States Supreme Court (2020), and Arkansas (2025). Educated at University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1987) and Rice University (B.A. English, 1983). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Travis County Bar Association. Serves clients in Bryan, TX and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Shane Peter Phelps
- College Station Criminal Defense Lawyer As founder of Shane Phelps Law, Bryan/College Station criminal defense attorney Shane Phelps has a reputation as a leading trial lawyer in the Central Texas area
- With decades of experience as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney, Shane has tried more than 250 jury trials, everything from DWI to Capital Murder
- He is highly regarded for his meticulous attention to detail, his exhaustive legal research skills, his leave-no-stone-unturned trial preparation, and his ferocious defense of his clients’ rights
- Before entering private practice to found one of the most successful criminal defense firms in Central Texas, Shane was the First Assistant District Attorney in the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office, one of the most successful prosecution offices in Texas during his tenure
- Shane founded Shane Phelps Law because he feels strongly that formidable criminal defense attorneys make the criminal justice system work best
- He is dedicated to providing the best legal defense in every case he handles
- Shane’s background, education, and experience speak volumes about his dedication, tenacity, and ability
- Shane is a former United States Marine, achieving the rank of sergeant meritoriously in less than two years, an accomplishment unheard of in the Marines
- He graduated from two of the best universities in the country, Rice University in Houston (B.A
- English, 1983) and The University of Texas School of Law in Austin (J.D., 1987)
- After graduating from law school, Shane turned down lucrative offers from civil law firms to start a career in the criminal justice system with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Houston, one of the busiest and best prosecutor offices in the United States
- Shane left the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in 1990 to take a position as a special prosecutor with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, traveling Texas assisting prosecutors who needed special expertise in complex and high profile cases
- In 1993, Shane was promoted by then-Attorney General Dan Morales to lead a new division, the Prosecutor Assistance and Special Investigations Division
- In 1998, Shane served as criminal justice advisor to the John Cornyn for Attorney General Campaign in Austin and, upon General Cornyn’s election, was appointed Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice
- Shane came to Central Texas in 2001 to accept the position as First Assistant District Attorney, a position he held until leaving in 2011 to found Shane Phelps Law
- Shane is a board-certified criminal law specialist
- Only a small percentage of criminal defense attorneys in Texas hold this distinction
- The certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization is awarded only after years of experience, recommendations from colleagues and judges, extensive trial experience, and successfully passing a rigorous examination
- Shane has been board-certified since 1992
- Shane is also a Fellow of the College of the State Bar, an elite legal fraternity that recognizes attorneys who exceed the minimum continuing legal education requirements every year
- Shane has been a popular lecturer on a variety of trial advocacy and legal topics over the years, including white-collar crime, public corruption, the death penalty, and search and seizure law
- He was a frequent lecturer for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association and is often asked to speak to community groups about the criminal justice system
- Since he became a criminal defense attorney, Shane has been invited by elected prosecutors and the Texas Rangers to train law enforcement officers
- Shane has also published numerous articles on public corruption, ethics, the death penalty, and other legal issues
- Shane has appeared on television numerous times to discuss the criminal justice system and topical legal issues
- Shane is the legal analyst for KBTX in Bryan/College Station and appears frequently on KAGS-TV in Bryan College Station
- Over his career, Shane has also been featured on Dateline NBC, NPR, on the covers of two magazines (The Texas Lawyer and The Austin Chronicle), in the Texas Bar Journal, and in numerous newspapers across Texas
- Shane is also a successful appellate lawyer, having argued before several courts of appeal in Texas and several times before Texas’s highest criminal court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
- In 2013, Shane argued and won The State of Texas v
- Granville, 423 S.W.3d 399 (Tex
- Crim
- App. 2014), a significant case involving warrantless searches of cell phones held in an inmate’s property
- Granville changed the law in Texas and required law enforcement to obtain a search warrant before searching a cell phone
- A leader in the legal community, Shane founded, along with fellow attorney Phil Banks of Bryan, Atticus Finch Day
- This holiday celebrates the ideals embodied in the fictional character of Atticus Finch from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird
- The event has become wildly successful and has attracted high-profile speakers from all over Texas, including famed trial attorney Rusty Hardin, civil and criminal defense attorney John Raley, who successfully won Michael Morton’s freedom after years of unjust incarceration, legendary Texas trial attorney and State Bar President Buck Files of Tyler, and former Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Cathy Cochran
- Shane is the author of "After the Flashing Lights: A DWI Guide for Texans
- This book is a comprehensive guide to how DWI cases are handled in Texas from the moment one sees the flashing lights of a police car to trial and successful completion of probation. "After the Flashing Lights: A DWI Guide for Texans" is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
- Most importantly, Shane is a devoted husband and father
- Shane’s wife, Jean, is also an attorney as well as a CPA who works with him at Shane Phelps Law
- Shane’s daughter, Mary Claire, is a recent graduate of Gonzaga University
- As a father, Shane has a deep appreciation for the concern parents have for their children and their futures
- Shane zealously represents students at Texas A&M and Blinn College who have been accused of criminal offenses that threaten their futures
Practice Areas Explained
Shane Peter Phelps's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Shane Peter Phelps handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Bryan.
DUI / DWI Defense in Bryan
Find experienced DUI and DWI defense attorneys near you. Compare verified profiles, read client reviews, and consult about your case for free.
Shane Peter Phelps is one of 29,739 dui/dwi attorneys indexed nationally. Browse dui/dwi attorneys in Texas →
Drug Crimes in Bryan
Shane Peter Phelps is one of 6,914 drug crimes attorneys indexed nationally. Browse drug crimes attorneys in Texas →
Personal Injury in Bryan
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Shane Peter Phelps is one of 262,557 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Texas →
Criminal Defense in Bryan
A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.
Shane Peter Phelps is one of 212,605 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in Texas →
Family Law in Bryan
Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.
Shane Peter Phelps is one of 185,688 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in Texas →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Bryan
Practicing law in Texas. Legal matters in Texas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Bryan are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Texas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Texas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Texas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Bryan Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Bryan-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Texas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Bryan or all attorneys in Texas.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Bryan Choose Shane Peter Phelps
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Shane Peter Phelps's practice in the field of dui/dwi, drug crimes, personal injury, criminal defense, and family law.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Shane Peter Phelps brings 39+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit Texas Southern District/Bankruptcy Court Texas Western District, and United States Supreme Court, Shane Peter Phelps can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering dui/dwi, drug crimes, and personal injury, Shane Peter Phelps can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Bryan
A Bryan-based practice means Shane Peter Phelps attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Shane Peter Phelps Handles in Bryan
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Shane Peter Phelps has experience with under Texas law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Shane Peter Phelps directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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