About Derek Israel - Criminal Defense Attorney

Derek Israel brings decades of law enforcement experience to his legal practice. Before becoming an attorney, Derek served as a homicide detective with the Austin Police Department, where he led numerous high-profile, complex investigations at both the state and federal levels. His work has been featured on multiple true-crime television programs, showcasing his expertise in criminal defense.  

During his law enforcement career, Derek investigated complex financial crimes, particularly when they intersected with violent offenses such as robbery and murder, which has informed his focus on white-collar investigations. Before becoming a detective, he served in the DWI Unit and was a certified Intoxilyzer operator and a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing instructor.  

Derek is also a veteran of the United States Army, where he served as a military intelligence interrogator and linguist. He was stationed in Germany and deployed to Saudi Arabia and Iraq during the First Gulf War. He is a past commander of The American Legion Post 76 in Austin.  

Derek earned his law degree with honors from Texas Tech University School of Law. Prior to returning to Central Texas, he served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.