Building a Successful Criminal Defense Practice: Lessons from Harris County Attorney Neil Krugh
Building a Successful Criminal Defense Practice: Lessons from Harris County Attorney Neil Krugh
By Andrew Herreth & Andrew Decker
Introduction
Every criminal defense lawyer remembers the beginning.
The uncertainty.
The first jury trial.
The first difficult client.
The first acquittal.
The first loss.
While many podcasts focus on famous cases or appellate decisions, some of the most valuable conversations center on something much simpler:
How do you actually build a successful criminal defense career?
There is no single blueprint.
Some lawyers begin as prosecutors.
Others enter private practice immediately after law school.
Some spend decades at large firms before opening their own office.
Others take a leap of faith with little more than a desk, a phone, and confidence in their abilities.
Regardless of the path, nearly every successful criminal defense attorney eventually discovers that success depends on much more than legal knowledge.
Relationships matter.
Reputation matters.
Trial experience matters.
Integrity matters.
In this episode of Andrew & Andrew on Texas Criminal Defense, we sit down with Harris County criminal defense attorney Neil Krugh to discuss exactly that journey.
Neil shares how growing up in Houston, working as a prosecutor, and eventually opening his own criminal defense practice shaped the lawyer he has become today. Along the way, he offers practical advice for younger attorneys, discusses the realities of practicing in one of the largest criminal court systems in America, and challenges several misconceptions surrounding court-appointed criminal defense work.
Whether you're a law student considering criminal law, a young lawyer beginning your practice, or an experienced attorney interested in another practitioner's perspective, Neil's story offers valuable lessons about building a career one case—and one relationship—at a time.
Knowing Where You Want to Go
Many attorneys stumble into criminal law.
Neil Krugh didn't.
He knew remarkably early what he wanted to do.
Growing up in Houston, his father practiced real estate law.
Although his father wasn't a trial lawyer, he recognized something in his son.
When Neil was still in middle school, his father took him to watch a jury trial.
That experience changed everything.
Watching a courtroom come alive through witness testimony, argument, and advocacy convinced Neil that litigation—not transactional work—was where he belonged.
From that point forward, his path remained remarkably consistent.
He attended Texas A&M University, earned a degree in history with a communications minor, attended South Texas College of Law, and pursued his goal of becoming a prosecutor.
Many law students change career paths multiple times.
Neil never did.
Sometimes clarity arrives early.
Becoming a Prosecutor
For many criminal defense attorneys, the prosecutor's office serves as the best trial training available.
Neil agrees.
After passing the Texas Bar in 2011 and working several jobs while waiting for an opportunity, he received the phone call every aspiring prosecutor hopes to receive.
Then-Harris County District Attorney Mike Anderson personally offered him a position with the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
Neil describes that moment as fulfilling a lifelong dream.
In fact, he admits he became emotional after accepting the offer.
That reaction illustrates something important.
Many criminal defense lawyers begin their careers believing deeply in prosecution.
Later, experience broadens their perspective.
Working both sides of the courtroom ultimately produces more balanced advocates because they've witnessed how each side approaches criminal cases.
The Value of Prosecutorial Experience
One misconception sometimes repeated within legal circles is that every great criminal defense lawyer must first become a prosecutor.
Neil quickly pushes back against that idea.
He points to several highly respected Texas defense attorneys who never worked for the government and nevertheless built outstanding reputations.
Trial skill doesn't belong exclusively to either side.
Instead, Neil emphasizes that criminal defense attorneys arrive through different paths.
Some begin prosecuting cases.
Others begin defending them immediately.
What matters isn't how someone starts.
It's how seriously they approach learning the craft.
That perspective reflects maturity.
Rather than arguing one career path is inherently superior, Neil recognizes there are multiple ways to become an exceptional advocate.
Knowing When It's Time to Leave
After approximately three years with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, Neil made another significant decision.
He left.
The reason wasn't politics.
It wasn't dissatisfaction with prosecution itself.
It was workload.
Neil describes handling some of the busiest dockets in Harris County.
Cases moved quickly.
The volume rarely slowed.
The pressure remained constant.
Eventually, he recognized something many lawyers struggle to admit:
He had reached a point where it was time to move on.
He opened his own criminal defense practice in 2016 and has represented clients ever since.
Career transitions often appear obvious in hindsight.
At the time, however, they require enormous faith.
Opening a solo practice means leaving stability behind in exchange for uncertainty.
Many attorneys dream about doing it.
Far fewer actually take the leap.
Criminal Defense Isn't About Picking Sides
One aspect of Neil's story stands out throughout the conversation.
Even while working as a prosecutor, he intentionally maintained positive relationships with defense attorneys.
He describes himself as approachable.
Reasonable.
Professional.
Never interested in adopting the stereotypical "prosecutor versus defense" mentality.
Interestingly, he always believed criminal defense might eventually become part of his career.
That long-term perspective influenced how he treated opposing counsel.
Professional reputations develop over years.
The lawyer arguing against you today may become your colleague tomorrow.
The prosecutor trying a case with you this week may become a respected defense attorney next year.
Those relationships matter.
Criminal defense is a surprisingly small community.
Lawyers who treat one another respectfully often discover those professional relationships continue benefiting them throughout their careers.
Why Harris County Is Unlike Anywhere Else
Practicing criminal defense in Harris County presents challenges unlike those found in most jurisdictions.
Neil points out that Harris County is among the largest counties in the United States.
The criminal docket reflects that reality.
Dozens of felony and misdemeanor courts operate simultaneously.
Thousands of criminal cases move through the system.
For defense attorneys, the sheer volume creates opportunities that simply don't exist in smaller counties.
Young lawyers may gain trial experience more quickly.
Courtroom procedures evolve rapidly.
Judges develop specialized practices.
Because of the size of the system, attorneys often become highly familiar with particular courts, prosecutors, and local customs.
That institutional knowledge becomes a significant advantage over time.
Serving a Diverse Community
Harris County also reflects one of the most diverse populations in America.
That diversity presents opportunities—and challenges—for criminal defense attorneys.
Language barriers arise.
Cultural differences affect communication.
Clients arrive from dramatically different educational, economic, and social backgrounds.
Andrew Decker asks how Neil navigates representing such a diverse client base.
Neil's answer is refreshingly straightforward.
He doesn't begin by categorizing clients.
He begins with the case.
He focuses on the evidence.
He explains the legal issues honestly.
And then he allows clients to make informed decisions regarding their own defense.
That philosophy reflects one of the core principles of effective criminal defense.
Every client deserves individualized representation.
Not assumptions.
Not stereotypes.
Just careful attention to the facts and the law.
Communication Solves Most Problems
Although Neil emphasizes treating every client the same, he readily acknowledges that communication sometimes becomes more complicated.
One particularly memorable example discussed during the episode involved a deaf client.
Fortunately, Neil's paralegal happened to know sign language and was able to communicate directly during a jail visit.
Moments like these illustrate an often-overlooked truth.
Successful criminal defense isn't simply about legal analysis.
It's about communication.
When language barriers exist, qualified interpreters become essential.
When cultural differences arise, patience becomes equally important.
Representation begins with understanding.
Without communication, meaningful representation becomes impossible.
Diversity Doesn't Change the Job
Perhaps the most thoughtful observation Neil makes during the discussion concerns diversity itself.
Rather than approaching representation differently depending upon a client's race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background, he explains that his focus remains the same:
Evaluate the evidence.
Explain the strengths and weaknesses honestly.
Provide realistic expectations.
Allow the client to decide how to proceed.
Neil describes himself as a "straight shooter."
He doesn't promise acquittals.
He doesn't guarantee dismissals.
He simply tells clients where their case stands.
That honesty builds trust.
Clients may not always enjoy hearing difficult news.
But they almost always appreciate candor.
Criminal defense lawyers cannot control evidence.
They cannot control prosecutors.
They cannot control judges.
They can control honesty.
And honesty remains one of the profession's greatest assets.
Harris County and the Death Penalty
For decades, Harris County has been synonymous with high-volume criminal litigation.
It has also attracted national attention because of its historical use of the death penalty.
During the discussion, Andrew Herreth asks Neil whether practicing in one of the country's most active death penalty jurisdictions has influenced his approach to criminal defense.
Neil's answer is practical rather than philosophical.
Whether the State seeks probation, life imprisonment, or the death penalty, his responsibility remains exactly the same:
Evaluate the evidence.
Identify weaknesses.
Develop a defense.
Advocate zealously for the client.
He emphasizes that prosecutors ultimately determine whether to seek capital punishment. Defense counsel may advocate, present mitigation, or communicate with prosecutors before indictment in some circumstances, but those charging decisions generally remain outside the attorney's control.
Instead of worrying about factors he cannot influence, Neil focuses on the aspects of representation that remain within his control.
Preparation.
Investigation.
Client communication.
Trial strategy.
That mindset is one shared by many experienced trial lawyers. Energy spent worrying about decisions made by others rarely benefits the client.
Energy spent preparing the case almost always does.
Every Case Deserves the Same Effort
One of the strongest themes throughout the interview is consistency.
Neil repeatedly explains that he approaches cases based on the evidence—not the potential punishment.
Whether the charge is criminal trespass or murder, the process remains fundamentally the same.
Review discovery.
Investigate facts.
Identify legal issues.
Prepare for trial if necessary.
Clients often assume attorneys become more invested only when the stakes are highest.
The best criminal defense lawyers know that's backwards.
Small cases frequently carry enormous consequences.
A misdemeanor conviction can cost someone a career.
A criminal trespass conviction may affect professional licensing.
A family violence allegation can change custody rights.
Every case matters to the client.
Accordingly, every case deserves meaningful preparation.
That philosophy becomes evident throughout Neil's discussion of his practice.
Rather than identifying himself as someone who only handles particular types of litigation, he describes himself as willing to try virtually any criminal case.
As he puts it, "I'm your Huckleberry."
For lawyers who genuinely enjoy trial work, that attitude makes perfect sense.
The courtroom—not the charge level—is what motivates them.
Dispelling the Myths About Court-Appointed Lawyers
Perhaps the most valuable portion of the conversation centers on one of the biggest misconceptions in criminal defense.
Many members of the public believe court-appointed attorneys are somehow less qualified than privately retained counsel.
Neil strongly rejects that idea.
He explains that Harris County's court-appointed attorneys include some of the finest criminal defense lawyers in Texas.
Many operate thriving private practices while simultaneously accepting court appointments.
Others serve within the Public Defender's Office.
Still others have spent decades trying serious felony cases.
The common denominator is not how they're paid.
It's how seriously they take their responsibility to their clients.
This distinction matters.
Too often, defendants mistakenly assume that hiring a lawyer automatically guarantees better representation.
Experience suggests otherwise.
There are excellent retained lawyers.
There are excellent appointed lawyers.
Likewise, there are attorneys in both categories who fail to meet the highest professional standards.
Quality depends on the individual—not the payment arrangement.
A Powerful Example of Trial Advocacy
Neil illustrates his point by discussing fellow Harris County attorney Julio Vela.
Shortly before recording the episode, Vela obtained a not-guilty verdict in a Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child case after lengthy jury deliberations.
Anyone familiar with criminal litigation understands how remarkable that result is.
Regardless of the final outcome, simply convincing a jury to deliberate for many hours in such a difficult case reflects exceptional advocacy.
Obtaining an outright acquittal demonstrates the level of skill many appointed attorneys bring to the courtroom every day.
Stories like these challenge stereotypes.
Court-appointed representation should never be viewed as second-class advocacy.
In many jurisdictions, some of the state's most experienced trial lawyers routinely accept appointments while simultaneously representing retained clients.
"I'm Going to Hire a Real Lawyer"
Nearly every attorney who accepts appointments has heard the statement.
A client becomes frustrated after hearing unfavorable evidence.
They announce:
"I'm going to hire a real lawyer."
Rather than taking offense, Neil simply laughs.
If the client wishes to retain private counsel, that's their decision.
His commitment to the case remains unchanged.
Andrew Herreth and Andrew Decker immediately recognize the sentiment.
Many appointed attorneys encounter similar misconceptions despite years of courtroom experience.
Ironically, defendants often make those statements without knowing anything about the lawyer representing them.
They assume payment determines quality.
Professional reputation says otherwise.
Experienced criminal defense attorneys understand that excellent advocacy comes from preparation, honesty, and effort—not the source of the attorney's fee.
Becoming Court-Appointed
The discussion also provides valuable insight for younger lawyers hoping to receive criminal appointments.
Neil explains that Harris County's appointment process has evolved.
Rather than relying exclusively on written testing, greater emphasis now appears to be placed on demonstrated experience and judicial confidence.
Attorneys seeking appointments must establish credibility through courtroom work, continuing education, trial experience, and professional reputation.
Promotion to handling more serious felony cases likewise depends upon proving competence.
Judges want assurance that attorneys accepting complex appointments possess the experience necessary to provide effective representation.
That system ultimately benefits everyone involved.
Clients receive more experienced counsel.
Judges maintain confidence in the appointment wheel.
Attorneys have an incentive to continue improving their trial skills throughout their careers.
Your Reputation Is Your Greatest Asset
Toward the end of the episode, Neil shares perhaps the most memorable advice he has ever received.
While attending Texas A&M as a member of the Corps of Cadets, an upperclassman told him:
"It's not the grades you make; it's the hands you shake."
That lesson stayed with him throughout law school and into practice.
Legal careers are built on relationships.
Judges notice professionalism.
Prosecutors remember fairness.
Opposing counsel remember integrity.
Clients remember honesty.
Networking isn't about collecting business cards.
It's about consistently demonstrating competence and professionalism over many years.
Excellent reputations rarely appear overnight.
They are earned through countless interactions, one case at a time.
Success Comes from Service
Listening to Neil's story, one recurring idea becomes obvious.
He never describes success in terms of money.
Instead, he talks about:
trying cases,
helping clients,
improving as a lawyer,
maintaining professional relationships,
and continuing to learn.
That perspective explains why so many respected criminal defense attorneys remain passionate about the profession decades into their careers.
The work constantly changes.
Every case presents new challenges.
Every client brings a different story.
Every jury offers a new opportunity to persuade.
For lawyers who genuinely enjoy advocacy, criminal defense provides endless opportunities to grow.
Final Thoughts
There is no single path to becoming an outstanding criminal defense lawyer.
Some begin as prosecutors.
Others start in private practice.
Some build careers handling retained cases.
Others devote significant portions of their practice to court-appointed representation.
Neil Krugh's career demonstrates that success depends less on where you begin than on how seriously you approach the profession.
His willingness to embrace trial work, maintain honesty with clients, and reject stereotypes surrounding appointed counsel offers valuable lessons for lawyers at every stage of their careers.
Perhaps most importantly, the episode reminds us that criminal defense remains a people business.
Cases matter.
Statutes matter.
Evidence matters.
But relationships—between attorneys, clients, judges, prosecutors, and the community—often shape careers just as much as courtroom victories.
For young lawyers searching for guidance, Neil's advice is refreshingly simple:
Work hard.
Be honest.
Build relationships.
And never stop improving.
Those principles remain just as valuable today as they were when he first stepped into a courtroom.
Key Takeaways
There is no single path to becoming a successful criminal defense attorney.
Prosecutorial experience is valuable but not essential for becoming an excellent defense lawyer.
Harris County's size creates unique opportunities and challenges for criminal practitioners.
Great lawyers focus on evidence and preparation rather than factors outside their control.
Court-appointed attorneys are often among the most experienced trial lawyers in Texas.
Payment does not determine the quality of legal representation.
Professional reputation is built through honesty, preparation, and consistent advocacy.
Networking and relationships are often more important to long-term success than academic performance.
Every criminal case deserves diligent preparation, regardless of the offense level.
A successful criminal defense practice is built one client, one trial, and one professional relationship at a time.
To contact Neil Krugh, please email neilkrugh@gmail.com
Andrew Herreth 0:05
Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Andrew and Andrew on Texas Criminal Defense. I'm Andrew Herreth,
Andrew Decker 0:11
and I'm Andrew Decker.
Andrew Herreth 0:12
How you doing, man?
Andrew Decker 0:13
I'm doing all right. How are you? You
Andrew Herreth 0:15
know, we had like a slight cool off, but I feel like we're back. We're back at Texas weather, it's it's a little bit. It's been a little bit warm the past couple days.
Andrew Decker 0:25
It has been a little bit warm, but I see cooler temperatures in the forecast. We're gonna have shorter days. In in well, if you if you're on a game management ranch, we're talking less than a week. And you said game
Andrew Herreth 0:40
management, right?
Andrew Decker 0:41
Game management ranch. Less than a week, and we're we're open season or archery season. If you learn if you learn how to hunt with a bow like I do,
Andrew Herreth 0:49
you know it's been kind of humid up here too, and we're in North Texas. What
Andrew Decker 0:53
does that have to do with anything?
Andrew Herreth 0:54
Well, I'm just saying, but not near as humid as it usually is in Houston. Lord
Andrew Decker 0:59
forbid.
Andrew Herreth 1:00
How'd you like that segue?
Andrew Decker 1:01
That was that was a terrible segue. Well, today
Andrew Herreth 1:04
we are talking with Neil Krug, who is a solo criminal defense attorney in Harris County. That'd be Houston, Texas. Neil, how are you doing, man?
Neil Krugh 1:13
I'm doing great, gentlemen. How are y'all?
Andrew Herreth 1:14
Pretty good, pretty good. Thanks for joining us. That
Andrew Decker 1:17
may have been one of our worst openers.
Andrew Herreth 1:19
One worst segways, really?
Andrew Decker 1:20
Well, openers and segways. It was it was bad. So we apologize to Neil and to our listeners for that. Yeah, you can send any complaints to Andrew Herreth.
Andrew Herreth 1:28
We are we're really trying though.
Andrew Decker 1:30
We are trying. We are
Andrew Herreth 1:31
trying. All right,
Andrew Decker 1:32
let's actually get to top it, Neil. First of all, thanks for being on the show, and thanks to your paralegal for introducing you to the show. We hope that you'll start listening like he does. So we got this,
Andrew Herreth 1:43
yeah, we got this email from Neil that says, "Hey, my paralegal listens to your show. I don't know who the heck you guys are, but I want to be on your podcast. It was something along those lines, and and we we'll take it.
Andrew Decker 1:55
We said if you reach out, we'll probably put you on, and this is proof.
Andrew Herreth 1:58
We'll take it, right? So, so thanks, James. Appreciate
Neil Krugh 2:02
you, James Wakeland. He was trying to, you know, just improve and try to be better as paralegal of mine. And he was like, "Hey, these guys are saying some good stuff. You need to listen to. So some that's why I reached out. So thanks to James. The
Andrew Herreth 2:15
good stuff is when we have guests on, like yourself, Neil.
Andrew Decker 2:18
Right. Exactly.
Andrew Herreth 2:19
So just you know, start start by just introducing yourself to our audience and why you became a criminal defense attorney.
Neil Krugh 2:26
Sure. So my name is Neil Krug. I was born and raised in Houston. I lived in Houston my entire life. Went to Texas A and M for four and a half years. Yeah, there we go. And then went to South Texas. I had a year in between graduating because I had to work on my LSAT score. But I finally got into South Texas, graduated, and passed the bar and started with the DA's office. Passed the bar in 2011 Worked some some pretty horrible jobs until I got the job at the DA's office in 2013. I got a call from Mike Anderson. It was the sitting DA on a April 1st, and which you know I thought maybe this was a joke, but he's like, "Hey, we want to offer you a job. Seven days later, I was a prosecutor with Harris County. I worked there for three years, and then in June of 2016, decided to open up my own practice and have been doing that since.
Andrew Herreth 3:29
Yeah, that's great. You know, most of and we talk about it semi quasi frequently, but most of the defense attorneys I know started out as prosecutors. Just a great way to get some training. Both of them are. so I mean,
Neil Krugh 3:44
yeah, there's there's a good fair that that they do you know start out you know having been a prosecutor and then they realize a couple things you know obviously some that just straight go to defense. There's some of the ones that I know that some of the best ones, you know, Mark Deason, Sean Darvici, some of these guys that just went straight to defense, and and they're killing it. So you know, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to be a a prosecutor beforehand. You can definitely be successful like these guys are, and just go straight to defense. You know,
Andrew Decker 4:15
I actually would have preferred to go the prosecutor route, but none of the prosecutors at the time were either either they weren't hiring or they weren't hiring me.
Andrew Herreth 4:24
Yeah, I wouldn't hire me
Andrew Decker 4:26
either. So you know that's fine.
Andrew Herreth 4:29
Yeah, I graduated in '08, and they had a big hiring freeze in Harris County and all that. So I got when I got hired on, it was at Fort Bend County, which for our listeners is just southwest of of Houston. But very grateful for that for that work and for that experience, and also extremely grateful that I no longer work there.
Andrew Decker 4:47
So, Neil, why why did you make the transition after three years? What was it that made you? You know, we all talk about the light side or the dark side, but why is it that you decided it was time for me to make the move?
Neil Krugh 4:59
So. I'd been working there for obviously two and a half years ish, leading up to it. I was in two of the most heaviest dockets, and and I'll refer to them as rocket dockets. And the 1/85 was Susan Brown, who's you know now overseen a bunch of the cases all throughout Texas, and then Judge Brad Hart, and they had rocket dockets, meaning that all of the cases were on one day, basically, except for the except for like the the new cases that would come up, you know, on on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday, and so I was just super overwhelmed, and and I was like this. I I can't continue this anymore. I've I've given given all I can give, and I was always if you ask anybody that that knows me as when I was a prosecutor, I was very laid back. I was very chill. I was always you know willing to work with the defense. Never you know, didn't have one of those prosecutor hat syndrome issues. I was always like defense friendly, and I knew I was going to end up there one day. And so I realized it was finally the time to just make the jump, make the leap, and go and do the damn thing. You know?
Andrew Herreth 6:15
Yeah. And so, did Harris County at that time require like a three-year commitment, like we know a lot of offices
Neil Krugh 6:23
do. It was, I think, it was one of those things that was just kind of understood. I mean, my my interview process is way different. I think it was way different than it is now. I mean, with the time that I applied, there were like I think 100 applicants, and five of us got hired. You know,
Andrew Herreth 6:44
yeah.
Neil Krugh 6:45
I had to go through through that process. The the I walked into the sixth floor of the DA's office, and there was like 18. It was a huge, huge conference table, nine on one side, nine on the other, and then you know Judge Belinda Hill at the very end of it, and it was a barrage of questions. I don't think they have that process anymore, with with all respect to the court prosecutors. But that's that's what it required at the time for for for us to get hired on back in 13, and there were five of us, and I still I still have contact with the five of us that started till still to this day for sure.
Andrew Herreth 7:27
Man, yeah, that that that is a pretty hellacious process.
Neil Krugh 7:32
Yeah,
Andrew Herreth 7:33
I've been interviewed. So my my interview at Fort Bend County was similar. They just didn't have 18. There was probably less than 18 prosecutors total in that entire office at the time, but the one and I was interviewed in Tarrant County, and it was the same deal. I got I got passed on to the second and final interview, and it was just a room full of people just throwing questions at me, and they were not like I mean they they they were they took the gloves off. I mean, it was it was really tough. I was sweating afterwards. Yeah, did not get hired. Yeah,
Neil Krugh 8:09
that's the same for me. I also applied to Tarrant. I applied I applied to all the. I mean, I applied to almost all the counties. Yeah, and you know, I I'd worked as an intern at the Harris County DA's before back in 2009 and I'd hopefully made a decent name for myself. So they were expecting me whenever I went into the interview process. They were like, "Hey, we've heard so many good things about you, but you're not showing it. And so, honestly, this is what happened. This is the only reason I think you know finding out you know hindsight 2020 I got the job. They were like, show me something. So I said, well, I was I was at the time I was helping coach my old high school mock trials team, and they were like, well, how would you how would you respond to your mock trial team if you know? I was like, what does that mean, a win or a loss? It's like you know, let's say they win, and so I composed myself, sat in the chair in front of these 19 people, and then I got up and I go woo, and I I just I just did like a huge motivational speech for for my high school mock trial team, and I honestly think that's what got me the job because they were like, all right, now we see that personality that we've heard about and all these referrals of that's cool that knows you, yeah. It was, it was, it was a dream job that I've always wanted. I cried whenever I got offered the job. That's how much I wanted to be a prosecutor in Harris County.
Andrew Decker 9:30
Hopefully, you at least hung up the phone before you started crying. Well, Mike Andrewson
Andrew Herreth 9:34
back in the day probably wouldn't have cared. He would, he would have expected you to cry. I bet.
Neil Krugh 9:37
Yeah, I mean, yeah, I for sure hung up the phone. I just started calling everybody that I knew my parents first, and yeah, yeah,
Andrew Herreth 9:43
it's kind of like that feeling when you find out that you're licensed, like that you actually pass the bar. That's exactly what I did, man. I that was a that was a good day. I still not quite sure if I was if I was not quite sure if I was going to pass.
Andrew Decker 9:58
I was sitting. With a former judge in a major law firm in Tarrant County, when the bar results came out, and one of the other attorneys walked down the hall and said, "Bar results are out, and the attorney slash former judge turned around and said, "Well, let's see how you did, mr. Decker. And I'm like going, "Oh, yeah, yeah. Thankfully, I passed.
Andrew Herreth 10:21
Please, please don't fail. So, what, Neil? I mean, you you born and raised in in Houston, went to law school in Houston, prosecuted in Houston. What what makes Houston or Harris County so special?
Neil Krugh 10:33
Ah, yeah, like you guys mentioned, born and raised in Houston, always been in Houston, grew up in the Meyerland area here in Houston. Have been here for you know obviously leading up to okay
Andrew Decker 10:44
slow down slow down for the people who are not Houston friendly tell us what the Meyerland Myerland yeah so it's
Neil Krugh 10:52
kind of near Bel Air it's like the cheap Bel Air
Andrew Herreth 10:55
yeah
Andrew Decker 10:56
okay all right that's no it's
Neil Krugh 10:57
not no it's not but it's it's uh it's the southwest part of Houston, still still Houston,
Andrew Herreth 11:03
yeah, actual Houston proper,
Andrew Decker 11:06
not not a suburb.
Neil Krugh 11:08
Yes, Houston proper. For those that aren't you know too familiar with Houston area, Houston is vast, and there are so many pockets, and this is a little pocket. And I went to a small private school for 18 years, St. Thomas Episcopal, and then and then I just I knew I wanted from the time that I was in eighth grade. My dad's a real estate attorney. He used to be the general counsel of Perry Homes, and he took me to a trial. So he's transactional, you know. He doesn't he doesn't he's not a litigator, and he took me to a trial. I think when I was in eighth grade, took me out of took me out of school, took me out in a class, and and said, "I want you to come see this. And I watched this attorney, Jeff Bracken. I don't know if he's still practicing or not, but I watched him try this case, and I was like, "This looks awesome. This looks like fun. This, you know, it's a it's a little bit of especially when you're a litigator, it's a little bit of theatrics mixed with knowledge, you know. And I mean, coming to learning that, and and I was like, this sounds like something I definitely want to do, and and so I went to went to A and M. I my major was history with a minor communications. Never changed my major. One of the few people that I know that never once changed their major. So I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to go to law school. I wanted to major in history, minor communications. Go to law school. I didn't know, you know, exactly what I wanted to do with that, but you know, things fall into place, and I applied for an internship with the DA's office. After that internship, you know, I was like, "All right, here we go. So, you know, I'm Houston, born and bred and raised.
Andrew Herreth 12:50
Yeah. So, so I guess like what what makes practicing law in Harris County so special? We do on this podcast. We talk to a lot of people just in our immediate area in North Texas, and you know there's a lot of good things to say about Tarrant, and you know I guess there's some redeeming value to Dallas, but you know for the most part, you know we we stay north, you know north of the of the Brazos. So what makes what makes practicing in Harris County special to you, besides you know being home and close to your family and all that.
Neil Krugh 13:24
Yeah, it's very taxing. I mean, I think we're the the out of Cook County and then Manhattan or whatever. I think we're the third largest county in the in the entire nation. You know, there's so many cases that come through Harris. We're quietly, really loud with so many cases that are that are filed here.
Andrew Decker 13:53
Right. So, so hold on. How many? Like, I've heard outstanding numbers of just how many courts, how many criminal misdemeanor and criminal felony court? How many courts are there? Actual misdemeanor and felony courts.
Neil Krugh 14:09
I believe there are. I know for sure there are 16 misdemeanor, and I think there are 16 plus in felony. I mean, I could name them all to you, but I I can't. You know, I'm not going to do the math. But I want to say there's 16 plus. I could tell you every single every single district court and what floor they're on. So it's four times. Yeah, it should be close to 16 to 20. So
Andrew Decker 14:32
like 32, 32 ish courts total.
Neil Krugh 14:36
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Which is nuts, you know. And I practice in a few other counties, you know, in Tarrant and in Dallas, and just Harris is massive. It's just massive.
Andrew Herreth 14:50
Yeah. So you you have done work up here.
Neil Krugh 14:54
I've taken a few cases earlier on in my days when I was trying to make a name for myself and you know. Make a little extra money. I took the Von Lane.
Andrew Herreth 15:05
Oh, right on.
Neil Krugh 15:06
Up to Dallas for a case I had there. You know, I've driven up to Taron just a little bit, but otherwise, at this point, that's when I first started out. At this point now, I just you know I send it to some of the some of the guys I know out there. James Fletcher is a great guy there. Do
Andrew Herreth 15:22
you stick to Harris County, or do you do some of the other surrounding counties?
Neil Krugh 15:26
I do. I do Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston. I'll take cases in Brazoria, but I haven't had any there in a while. But Fort Bend and Galveston and Harris are my three little, you know, yeah.
Andrew Decker 15:43
So, like, so like most most criminal defense attorneys, you kind of have a have an area that you focus on. But if somebody with the right name and right money comes along, you might travel. You know, kind of the have have bar license will travel.
Neil Krugh 15:59
Yeah, of course, of course. Yeah, again, if they're paying a client, of course. Yeah, have license. We'll have briefcase. We'll travel. Yeah, but you know, otherwise, unless I mean, unless it's you know a sub subs a substantial fee, I just defer to somebody close. You know, like give it 20 all guys, you know.
Andrew Decker 16:21
Yeah, yeah. So, part you you mentioned that Harris, the Houston's a you know large swath of a of a city. Harris County is like number three in overall population in the in the nation, and it is also because of that one of the most diverse areas in the nation. How do you handle? How do you do criminal defense with such a vast array of clients? Such a diverse array of clients, like just language, culture, not to mention socioeconomic, which is an obvious. But but how do you how do you handle that?
Neil Krugh 17:03
That is a very poignant question for today, which is that you asked that my paralegal went and visited one of my clients in the jail today that is deaf, and James, by the way, and he and he he knows sign language, which I had no idea until I said, "Hey, you're gonna go visit this guy, and he's like, "Well, I know, you know, he always signs. You know, he was able to sign with him. So
Andrew Herreth 17:27
James knows sign language.
Neil Krugh 17:29
James knows sign language. He was able to communicate with my client in the in the in the jail.
Andrew Herreth 17:34
James, I hope that's on your resume, man. That's a pretty big deal.
Andrew Decker 17:37
Yeah, that that that will be money for you at some point, for sure.
Neil Krugh 17:41
But but that's that's few and far between, right? So we're talking about. I mean, if we're looking at you know realistically, a majority are Hispanic and and black, you know, and it's, I mean, it is what it is. The cases come in, and you know, I just try to to sit down and talk with them and and say like you know here's here's what's going on here's your case here's the evidence here's what they're presenting here's what I think we can do you know as as far as diversity I don't I don't I don't really I don't want to be like that person that says I don't see color the case is what it is. Depending on, it doesn't matter. You know, your it's your name and the offense and the evidence that they have against you. I don't care what color or diversity you are. For me, that's not just me. I mean, sometimes people may want to use that towards their advantage, or you know. hopefully, never a disadvantage. But I just look at the case and go, "This is what we got going on. I'm a I'm a straight shooter defense attorney. I don't I don't I don't sugarcoat things. I don't promise things that I can't deliver. I I present them with what's going on, what I think is going to happen, and here's what we got to do, and you know, it's up ultimately, you know, it's ultimately up to their decision as to what whatever the state offers.
Andrew Herreth 19:11
Right. Yeah. I mean,
Neil Krugh 19:12
it's up to them. That's all that matters. So I don't. I don't care what. I don't care. I mean, I don't want to say it. The job is the job. I don't care about diversity, but I don't care about diversity. I care about the the client,
Andrew Decker 19:24
right? Right. Yeah, I think I think the the place where I've had difficulty is where there's a language barrier. I've had one where the guy had a DWI while on bond. He got another DWI, and I realized I got appointed to him. I think after the second one occurred, and I realized I don't think there's any way that he understood the the questions. Like he spoke like a mixture of French and Swahili, kind of this kind of text mix between French and Swahili. His brother understood him and could translate, but there's no way, but. If I ask him a question, you go yes, yes, yes, and I and then I said, can't remember what it is. I asked him, you know, like about his body parts. He could not identify his body parts in English, right? That would be, you know, kind of first first sets of of learning, and I went, yeah. There's no way he understood the, and we had to get a translator and so forth. That becomes much more difficult than, um, than just socio economic or race. But even there, you can have people that just don't trust you because, you know, maybe he didn't answer your question
Andrew Herreth 20:42
because you're asking about his body parts. Also,
Neil Krugh 20:45
Chicha, I didn't ask
Andrew Decker 20:47
about. I was like, "Where's your? Stop.
Andrew Herreth 20:51
Okay. I tell you
Neil Krugh 20:52
what. Honestly, to that point, it's very relevant. I had a trial on a sexual assault two to 20. I went to trial a month ago, and he was primarily Spanish-speaking client, and I don't really speak the best of, if any, Spanish. So you know, there was always somebody here to help translate. And we still went to trial on the case. Didn't turn out in our favor, but even even the the language barrier didn't didn't take away from my representation of him and my ability to try a case with you know I mean and this was the case where we had a we had translators or interpreters excuse me, that we're interpreting for you know my client, and then when the complainant took the stand, you know we had multiple interpreters going on, and that doesn't take away from my my or anybody's ability to to to fully represent a client and and do the best that we can. Yeah, it doesn't change your
Andrew Decker 22:01
zeal.
Neil Krugh 22:02
Of course not,
Andrew Herreth 22:03
right?
Neil Krugh 22:04
You know, I mean, you know, I thought we had a good chance. You know, I'm not going to go into that too much further because it's on appeal. But yeah,
Andrew Herreth 22:12
right, right, right. Yeah. So yeah, I mean, you know, Harris County being some of the biggest ones, and for years it was the how did we put it earlier? Like they sent more people to death row than
Andrew Decker 22:25
most other, like all the other states combined outside of Texas.
Andrew Herreth 22:30
And I and now you know the law the law has changed, which allows for life without without parole. I mean, you know, as as a a fairly young attorney, is that? Are you seeing any? You know, does that affect your practice at all? Is that still the how Harris County is? You know, what what do you feel like is is changing in that in such a high death penalty area? What what's your what's your thoughts on the the changing culture over there.
Neil Krugh 23:01
So my understanding with you know with capitals and you know I have not tried any capitals for what it's worth, but it's ultimately not the DA's office. There's nothing we can do on the defense side to be like convince them. Maybe I mean maybe maybe submit a grand jury packet. Maybe talk to the prosecutor before it's indicted. Hey, do this or that. But otherwise, they're going to do what they're going to do. You know, they're they're going to seek whatever they want to seek. There's nothing that we can really do at the outset, at the front. You know, the front part of the case to to convince them. Hey, don't seek this. I think you know. I think it's safe that they always you know decide to seek the death penalty, and then you know you can go,
Andrew Herreth 23:50
right?
Neil Krugh 23:51
You can go for a lesser afterwards. You know, as far as Harris County being one of the highest rates, well, that doesn't surprise me, guys. I mean, I just said it earlier on. We're the third largest county in the nation, you know, besides Cook County and Chicago, and Manhattan County. So it doesn't surprise me. And we're and I don't know the I don't think New York has the death penalty. I'm not sure if Chicago does, but I know that we do. Doesn't surprise me that we do. And and if the case calls for it, cool, great. It's our job to come here and to try to prevent that from happening. You know.
Andrew Herreth 24:30
Yeah, this was one of the questions that I added on because I'm like, I don't know, man. Maybe you'll have a interesting opinion on it, which you know is kind of like it's the job. I mean, do the job. You know. Yeah, I mean,
Neil Krugh 24:41
I don't care. I don't care what the penalty is.
Andrew Herreth 24:43
Right.
Neil Krugh 24:44
Give me the evidence. Let me let me work on it, and then we'll go forward. Like I don't obviously to the client that matters for sure. But I don't. Ultimately, they're going to decide what they want to decide, and they tell us all we can do. I literally had this happen yesterday. All I can do is present the client with the evidence they have.
Andrew Herreth 25:06
Yeah,
Neil Krugh 25:07
make them and and say not even make them look. This is the evidence. How do I proceed forward? This is where they are. Boom, go. You know, I I really I really do make it a point to leave it up to my clients to decide how they want to proceed forward with their cases. I'm not some of these guys. I'm not. I'm not a plea pusher. I'm not. I mean, you know, cases. I mean, you know, that's something. I'll try. I'll try a class B trespass all the way to a you know a murder, capital murder. You know, if I get to that point, but um, I need some more experience there. You know,
Andrew Herreth 25:44
right? Okay, yeah. Can we talk about appointed cases for a little bit?
Neil Krugh 25:49
Absolutely, yeah.
Andrew Herreth 25:50
So you know, you're you're a a private attorney. You're like a free world attorney, real world attorney, but you also take some court appointments. So so tell us about like about that like you know being a private attorney in Harris County, but also taking court appointments.
Neil Krugh 26:08
Yeah, so so there's a mis there's like there's a misnomer of you know court appointed at least in Harris County, right? I'm not going to speak in the rest of Texas or wherever else or that throughout the nation, but in Texas, at least in sorry, in in Harris County, there's a public defender's office that is paid by the county, and those people that work for the public defender's office, and they are some of the best defense attorneys in the entire city. They are great, and they get paid by the county. But but there are also at least as of right now, and there may be changes. At least as of right now, there are people that can can get appointed to that have their own private practice get appointed to certain defendants, which end up becoming clients, and so that's somebody like me who has a private practice who just gets appointed a case, and then I work that case, and you know, whatever happens, happens.
Andrew Herreth 27:22
Right,
Neil Krugh 27:22
but but there's there's a there's a huge misnomer on you know appointed attorney, public defender's office, and free world lawyer. And I just I want to I want to dispel any type of um I don't rumors or whatever that that some of the best defense attorneys are court-appointed attorneys that have their own private practice. They are some of the best attorneys in Harris County that that get some of the best results. Yesterday, Julio Vela JV. I don't know if you guys talked to him or you should, but he's he's a he's he's an up and coming, if not already, one of the goats here in Harris County. He had a jury out for two and a half days, I think, on a CSAC, continuous sexual assault of a child, and he and he finally got the verdict yesterday of a not guilty. Wow, that's incredible! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! Amazing, amazing. The guys, the guy's great. I mean, just having the jury
Andrew Decker 28:28
out for two and a half days. If he would have lost, we still all have been like, dude, that that's that's pretty good.
Andrew Herreth 28:33
Yeah,
Neil Krugh 28:33
I saw him in the elevator bank yesterday when they were still penning, and I said, "What's going on? He said, "They're still out. I go. That's a good thing, brother. That's a good thing. 10 hours. It's a good thing.
Andrew Herreth 28:44
Yeah. Right.
Neil Krugh 28:45
Use the point of that case. Great attorney. So anybody that thinks these court-appointed attorneys aren't good at what they do, there's a prime example of what happened yesterday of of a CSAC case, continuous sexual assault of a child that he was able to get a not guilty after I think it ended up being like 14 hours of deliberation.
Andrew Herreth 29:08
Wow,
Neil Krugh 29:09
incredible! Incredible! Big ups to JV. He has he has a local show here called Reasonable Doubt.
Andrew Herreth 29:15
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. So
Neil Krugh 29:17
you know, yeah.
Andrew Herreth 29:19
Todd Dupont. We've had him on the show talk about his book. I love
Neil Krugh 29:23
Todd.
Andrew Herreth 29:23
Yeah, and and he was telling us about the reasonable doubt show on that episode. Yes, sir. Yeah, so court-appointed attorneys save lives, is what I'm hearing. You know.
Andrew Decker 29:33
Well, okay. So so hold on, Neil. I'm I'm going to kind of follow on the question. Yeah. As someone who does a very similar thing, and and mr. Herreth does as well, and many of our listeners are exactly what you're talking about. We are have our own office. We're private attorneys, but we take appointments. And you, I, I'll be sitting in a in a attorney booth talking to a client, and as you said, presenting them with the. Evidence and they don't like it, and they're gonna. I'm gonna hire a real attorney, and my answer is, great. Have your girl hire an attorney. You might want to research who you're who you're talking to before you do. Yeah, right. Because I'm amazed. I'm amazed that they're they're like, well, I want a real attorney. You're like, you don't even know who you're talking to.
Neil Krugh 30:20
I know. I know. Yeah, that's frustrating. It, but it's fine. I, I accept it as a part of the whole thing. You know, look, if that's the way you feel, that's fine. That's fine. Right. It's okay with me. That's fine. I mean, you're dealing with somebody who's gonna kick ass for you, but that's fine if that's how you feel. You know, go ahead and hire somebody. Hire somebody. I I got no qualms with that. I don't
Andrew Decker 30:50
either. I don't either. At the end of the day, I think we're
Andrew Herreth 30:52
offended. Yeah, I'm like I'm not. I'm not offended. I mean, this is just
Andrew Decker 30:55
or that I'm gonna suddenly change what I'm doing.
Andrew Herreth 30:57
Yeah. Oh man. Yeah. Yeah. I'm gonna,
Neil Krugh 31:00
I'm gonna stop representing you such so zealously. Like I'm still gonna. I've heard like,
Andrew Herreth 31:05
well, you get paid by the judge, so you're in the judge's. You know, you're you're really the judge's attorney and not my attorney. And I'm like, well,
Neil Krugh 31:12
no, yeah, it's the county. The judge has nothing to do with
Andrew Herreth 31:15
it. Right.
Andrew Decker 31:16
Yeah.
Andrew Herreth 31:17
So if if some of our listeners wanted to get, you know, wanted to become a court-appointed attorney in Harris County. Like, what does it what does it take to get on the wheel out there?
Neil Krugh 31:24
So it's new, apparently, from my understanding. Oh, yeah. I don't know if it's breaking news, but but mine are
Neil Krugh 31:35
scared.
Andrew Decker 31:36
Incoming breaking news from Harris County. Sorry.
Neil Krugh 31:39
No, my understanding is so. It used to be you had to take a stupid, like I think it was 100 100 question test or 200 question. I don't know where that's the one I took. That's that's how I got. Now I think it's you just submit a resume and the judges have to do whatever. I was just recently, so I did take that test. I did not pass the first time because I didn't take it. No, I know I did. That was it. I was thinking about the what's the ethics one. I didn't ethics one. That's what I didn't pass the first time. No, I passed. I passed the the court appointed test first time. But I think that's now no longer prevalent, and I think they're just allowing people to present themselves based on their experience and what they have, which is which is good because for I know Fort Ben for sure does that because I do work out there in Fort Ben. I know that they do that, and and so make you
Andrew Herreth 32:42
take a test?
Neil Krugh 32:43
No, no test. No, no test in Fort Ben.
Andrew Herreth 32:46
Okay.
Neil Krugh 32:46
You just you know, but I just was recently. I had to. I had to reapply for certification on court appointments to first degree, and so I had to write a letter, and I want to say it's like 70% of the judges had to approve one's I guess increase from second degree to first degree, and and I got an email back in I think like June, and then said you you know you've been now increased to first degree, you know, and I wrote a letter saying I've tried all these cases, done all this, blah blah blah, and I got to prove to first degree. So I, well, what I think it is now is that, you know, you just have to prove yourself and and see if the judges are willing to have you as somebody that's you know on them. There, there are a lot of there are a lot of really really really good court appointeds. The problem is there there's you know there's quite a few that aren't aren't the best that don't you know yeah
Andrew Herreth 33:50
they don't fight as hard they get personally yeah
Andrew Decker 33:55
well but the same is true about retained attorneys true right you can you can pay someone $5,000 for a case,
Neil Krugh 34:03
yeah,
Andrew Decker 34:03
and them not do anything, and you pay someone $5,000 for a case, and them do $10,000 worth work. That is not about how much you pay. That is about how hard the attorney is going to work, and most of them that are going to work hard will work hard whether they're appointed or retained, and the ones that aren't going to work hard are going to skate and and pad their stuff whether they are retained or appointed.
Andrew Herreth 34:31
Yeah,
Neil Krugh 34:31
correct for sure. I'm a
Andrew Decker 34:33
skater.
Andrew Herreth 34:34
You're a skater. Yeah, yeah. Let's
Andrew Decker 34:35
be honest.
Andrew Herreth 34:36
You know, I was when I interned in Harris County over the like your interns
Neil Krugh 34:42
and your intern. intern,
Andrew Herreth 34:43
man, I don't even remember anymore. I graduated in May from law school in May of '08, so it would have been summer of like '07, summer of '06.
Neil Krugh 34:53
We might have interned together, but
Andrew Herreth 34:55
I'm old man. I'm old.
Neil Krugh 34:58
30-eight, but
Andrew Herreth 34:58
but. The but back then they the judges actually still had contract attorneys even though they really weren't supposed to because the the I guess there would the the standards had come out that opponented attorneys should only have like five at a time but they still had contract attorneys who who like basically would just get the leftovers and these guys were making like in one court for as a contract attorney, they were making like six figures or something crazy just from like working pleas out every day. All they would do is just do you know 1244 a. Can I get 1244 a? And like we'd make those guys. When I was interning in the DA's, I was we make those guys go and pay for lunch. Yeah,
Neil Krugh 35:39
yeah, that happens. Although I don't want to, you know, I don't want to shit on those people. Sorry, sure. I don't want to. I mean,
Andrew Herreth 35:48
yeah, I mean, it's a great, it's a great gig if you can get it. You know what I mean? There
Neil Krugh 35:52
are there are some of those that just that are you know plea mills. Yeah, that's not how I am at all. And and that and and again that that's that's the that's the mis misnomer of yeah
Andrew Herreth 36:05
mischaracterization of the of the job that we do. I mean
Neil Krugh 36:08
you know I I you want to go to trial hell yeah I mean I tell my clients and I even tell James you know whenever he talks to some of my clients I say hey you got a class C I mean, not really classy. Let's be honest, but you know, you got you got a class B all the way to you know first degree felony. I'm your Huckleberry, you know. I'll try whatever. I'm not I'm not one of these specialty guys. You know, I'll try whatever. Put it in front. Just give me in front of a jury. Let's go. Just
Andrew Decker 36:40
tee it up, yeah. Right, yeah. Which what you got to do if you're going to stay in business? All right. So talking about business, we we've talked about the work. Now we want to know a little bit about the man, the
Andrew Herreth 36:53
man, the man
Andrew Decker 36:54
behind the work. So we ask all of our guests a few fun questions, partly just because we're not just our work, and the first one we ask everyone is, "What is your favorite band or musical artist?
Neil Krugh 37:08
Um. Well, I just purchased tickets to go see the 1975 coming up in November. But favorites, I'm just going to do it real quickly. John Mayer, 1975, Saint Lucia. I took my wife to see Michael Bublé two weeks ago. Okay,
Andrew Decker 37:29
whoa, whoa, slow up, slow up. You took your wife to see Michael Bublé. That that's a date. Is that because you like Michael Michael Bublé, or is that because you know your wife likes Michael Bublé, and you know you got to do some certain things.
Neil Krugh 37:42
Are we allowed to curse on this podcast?
Andrew Herreth 37:44
Sure.
Andrew Decker 37:44
Yeah,
Neil Krugh 37:45
I fucking love Michael Bublé. Well,
Andrew Herreth 37:48
you know what? He loves you too. I know he does.
Neil Krugh 37:51
I know we got we got we got great floor seats to that. So what about good for you? Yeah, man, that's
Andrew Herreth 37:58
awesome. What uh what about your favorite book, or just one that you know maybe you're reading, or one you recommend to people?
Neil Krugh 38:06
Ah, I love me some. I know I love me some Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn because they're we can curse again, right? Yeah, they're fucking rebels. Yeah, and they always they're little shits and there's little shit stirs and and they're always you know asking questions and they're always I think that was definitely something that I think Mark Twain tried to portray through the characters that they were always just just pushing buttons and doing things and I think it's you know I think it's important for people to read those books again to realize, like these guys are, you guys are asking the questions that that we should be asking this day and age. Sometimes a little bit, you know.
Andrew Herreth 38:52
Yeah.
Andrew Decker 38:53
Yeah. Well, and it also reminds us how far we have come.
Neil Krugh 38:57
Of course.
Andrew Decker 38:58
Right. Yeah. We have not we have not reached Nirvana as a society, but Lord have mercy, we've come a long way.
Neil Krugh 39:07
Yeah. All
Andrew Decker 39:08
right. Best piece of advice you've ever received? It could be personal or professional.
Neil Krugh 39:15
So I was in the corps at A and M, the Corps cadets, and there was a sophomore that gave me this advice whenever I was a freshman, running around like an idiot. And and if you're that has nothing to do with being
Andrew Decker 39:31
in the corps, you know, a freshman is always running around like an idiot.
Neil Krugh 39:35
Yeah, well, well, if you know the core, yeah, it is, and and it and it's honestly the best advice I think I've ever gotten my entire life, and it's it's not the grades you make; it's the hands you shake.
Andrew Herreth 39:50
Yeah,
Neil Krugh 39:51
that's it. It's not the grades you make; it's the hands you shake. And so, and and that's proven true for me, unfortunately, or fortunately, getting in the south. Texas, you know, I had a little assistance there.
Andrew Herreth 40:07
Yeah,
Neil Krugh 40:08
my dad. Somebody my dad knew. You know, getting to the DA's office, it was it was not it was not my grades or anything. It was it was how I worked and how I did things. So it's not the grades it makes the hands shake and the things you do. So don't don't let your grades prevent you from proceeding forward in the future. You know, be something, be someone.
Andrew Decker 40:31
Well, and nobody nobody's asked me. I've yet to be asked what I got my on my bar exam minus
Neil Krugh 40:37
exactly. I mean, I know I know my score, but exactly, I killed it. I I did fine,
Andrew Decker 40:44
right? Yeah, I did good enough. Yeah, I did good enough. All right, so so Neil, you're in private practice. If someone's in Harris County and listening, or one of our listeners has somebody who's in Harris County and needs a needs to send them your way. How can they find you?
Neil Krugh 41:03
2816450 800 That's my that's my number. Okay. And then and then my website is currently being under process, but it should be Neil A Krug at.com
Andrew Herreth 41:21
Okay. Will e Neil A. So
Neil Krugh 41:24
my my middle name's Alexander. So Neal A. krug.com
Andrew Decker 41:27
Neil A. All right, all right. Just want to make sure. But
Neil Krugh 41:29
if if you just, I mean, my name's you're gonna find two Krugs in Texas, most likely one my dad is a real estate attorney,
Andrew Decker 41:37
and you're not him,
Neil Krugh 41:39
and that's not me.
Andrew Decker 41:40
There you go,
Neil Krugh 41:41
or me, Neil Crew, and and you'll find me easily for sure. Thanks, guys. Okay,
Andrew Herreth 41:46
yeah, we'll we'll put both of those up on the show notes, and and hopefully you know some people will reach out to you. You know, maybe some of our other attorneys throughout the state need some help out in Harris County, and that way they can touch base and and see what we what y'all can do together. For sure,
Neil Krugh 42:03
I I actually just reached out to a attorney that's here in Harris. There was looked like he was you know under some physical ailments, and I was like, hey man, let me help you out. You know whatever I can, I sent him an email. Anybody that needs any work done in Harris, I'm pretty much there, if not every single day, so I'm not I'm not hard to find Neil krug@gmail.com whatever. Thanks guys so much for this opportunity. Thank you very very much. Thanks to James, my paralegal for for helping setting this up and yeah so thanks James well thanks
Andrew Decker 42:39
honestly thank you to all of our listeners. Right, whether they're paralegal that hands us off to a to a new to a new guest on the show, but we know several paralegals and assistants that listen to us, and we appreciate that. I will be speaking at the paralegals conference next week in in Tarrant County, so I'm going to talk about motion to suppress. Surprise, surprise!
Andrew Herreth 43:02
Fantastic.
Andrew Decker 43:03
I know. Well, thanks again for listening to another episode of Andrew and Andrew and Winston. He's here, like usual,
Andrew Herreth 43:10
always
Andrew Decker 43:10
on Texas Criminal Defense. You can find us on the web@texascrimdef.com No,
Andrew Herreth 43:18
Texas Crim defense.com Texas Crim Development. Yeah, I know it's terrible. Got
Andrew Decker 43:22
it. And then you can find us on Facebook at Andrew and Andrew on Texas Criminal Defense, and you can find us on Twitter. I think we're now up to like 20-three Twitter followers.
Andrew Decker 43:34
We're getting there.
Andrew Decker 43:34
We're getting there. It's been a long day. I'll follow you. All right, all right. We will talk to you soon.