Dax Ian Garvin

Dax Garvin is an Austin criminal defense lawyer and Senior Trial Attorney at Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys who has represented Texans facing criminal charges for more than two decades. Licensed since 2002, Mr. Garvin brings a rare combination of experience as a criminal defense attorney, prosecutor, and former deputy sheriff, providing clients with valuable insight into every stage of the criminal justice process.

Mr. Garvin represents clients facing DWI charges, assault allegations, drug offenses, domestic violence accusations, theft crimes, probation violations, and other misdemeanor and felony criminal matters. He has experience handling cases involving allegations of sexual assault, child abuse, violent crimes, and other serious felony offenses.

Mr. Garvin focuses on defending individuals accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses throughout Central Texas, including Travis County, Williamson County, Bell County, and surrounding communities. He believes that effective criminal defense requires more than analyzing statutes, police reports, and evidence. Every client brings a unique set of circumstances, experiences, and challenges to their case, and understanding those factors is often critical to developing a successful defense strategy. By taking the time to learn each client's story, Mr. Garvin provides personalized representation tailored to their specific needs and goals.

Before dedicating his career to criminal defense, Mr. Garvin served as a Deputy Sheriff with the Williamson County Sheriff's Department. His experience patrolling communities, responding to calls for service, and enforcing Texas law provides valuable insight into how law enforcement officers investigate crimes, gather evidence, and make arrest decisions. This firsthand understanding of police procedures allows him to identify potential weaknesses in investigations and effectively challenge the State's evidence when appropriate.

Mr. Garvin also spent several years as a prosecutor with Travis County, where he handled misdemeanor offenses and later prosecuted felony cases involving allegations of child abuse. His experience evaluating evidence, preparing cases for trial, negotiating resolutions, and presenting cases in court provides him with valuable insight into how prosecutors assess criminal allegations and pursue convictions. This experience, combined with more than two decades of criminal law practice, has given him a deep understanding of the legal and practical factors that influence criminal cases from investigation through resolution.

Throughout his career, Mr. Garvin has conducted numerous bench and jury trials and helped resolve thousands of cases on behalf of his clients. His experience spans a wide range of criminal matters, from misdemeanor offenses to serious felony allegations. Prior to joining Michael & Associates, Mr. Garvin successfully operated his own criminal defense law firm for more than 13 years, representing individuals throughout Central Texas and building a reputation for practical legal guidance, strong courtroom advocacy, and client-focused representation.

In addition to his experience as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, Mr. Garvin has served in several government litigation roles, including positions with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the Texas Office of the Attorney General, and the Travis County Sexual Assault Division.

Mr. Garvin's diverse background in law enforcement, prosecution, government litigation, and criminal defense gives him a well-rounded perspective that benefits clients facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives. He is committed to protecting his clients' constitutional rights, providing candid guidance throughout the legal process, and developing defense strategies tailored to each client's circumstances and objectives.

About Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys

Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys is a criminal defense firm with a unique model: the high-touch, personalized attention of a boutique firm, backed by the resources and collective experience of a 40+ lawyer defense team.

Every client is assigned a dedicated Senior Trial Attorney who owns the defense from intake through resolution. That attorney focuses on a specific county and court — practicing there regularly and knowing the judges, the prosecutors, and the local tendencies that shape outcomes. Cases are not rotated, reassigned, or passed to junior attorneys (the firm doesn't employ any).

Behind that lead attorney is a team of forty criminal-defense lawyers with more than 1,000 jury trials between them, including attorneys Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, ten Super Lawyers honorees, ACS-CHAL Forensic DWI Lawyer-Scientists, former prosecutors, former judges, and former law-enforcement professionals, including a former FBI agent.

That structure gives clients the 40-on-1 advantage: one senior lawyer leading your case, backed by the collective knowledge of 40+ criminal-defense attorneys. It means the prosecutor is not up against one lawyer — they're up against a brain trust.

The firm's main metric is client satisfaction, which is measured using standard CSAT surveys to every client at the conclusion of the case. The firm has achieved a 98.5% client satisfaction rate based on 1,840 survey responses. The full breakdown by case type is below:

• DWI: 97.8% CSAT (781 responses)
• Assault & Domestic Violence: 99.5% CSAT (368 responses)
• Other: 98.7% CSAT (158 responses)
• Drug Charges: 98.6% CSAT (142 responses)
• Motion to Revoke Probation: 97.8% CSAT (134 responses)
• Theft & Fraud: 100% CSAT (106 responses)
• Driving Offenses: 98.7% CSAT (75 responses)
• Weapons: 98.1% CSAT (52 responses)
• Sex Offenses: 100% CSAT (24 responses)

Data from September 2022 through May 6, 2026.

The firm's 2025 trial record was 65% favorable outcomes with a 50% outright acquittal rate. A 5.0 rating on Google. More than 1,400 five-star reviews on Google, Avvo, BBB, and Martindale, an A+ BBB rating, and combined criminal-defense experience exceeding 540 years. Attorney caseloads run well below ABA recommendations. Case reviews are free. No trial fees - ever.

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