Managing Partner — The Hull Firm
Allison Tisdale
Former Travis County Prosecutor — Now Austin’s Criminal Defense Attorney
The Defense Advantage Nobody Else Can Offer
Before I was a defense attorney, I was the person on the other side of the courtroom. I served as an Assistant County Attorney, then as an Assistant District Attorney in Travis County. I was chief misdemeanor prosecutor. I was the special prosecutor assigned to complex blood DWI cases. I was the Travis County DA’s representative to the DWI Diversion Court.
I know how Austin prosecutors build DWI cases because I built them. I know which evidence they prioritize, how they evaluate the breath and blood test results, what they consider a strong case versus a weak one, and exactly where the defense has leverage. That’s not something you can learn by reading case law — it comes from being inside those charging decisions hundreds of times.
When you hire The Hull Firm on a DWI charge in Austin, you get a defense attorney who has seen your case from both sides of the courtroom. No other firm in Austin can say that about their DWI practice.
On the prosecution side, I handled:
Complex blood DWI cases as special prosecutor — the cases where breathalyzer refusals led to warrant-based blood draws, retrograde extrapolation disputes, and toxicology expert battles. These are the cases most defense attorneys find most difficult. I know the prosecution’s playbook because I wrote parts of it.
Intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault felony trials, which gave me extensive jury trial experience on the most serious DWI outcomes. That experience directly informs how I build felony DWI defenses today.
Background & Education
I was born in Corpus Christi and moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas, where I completed my undergraduate degree. I then moved to Washington, D.C. to earn my J.D. at George Mason University School of Law. I’ve been licensed in Texas since 2012.
Criminal law was the focus from the beginning. I went into the DA’s office intentionally — to learn how the system actually works from the inside. After earning the Prosecutor of the Year recognition in 2016, I made the decision to bring that knowledge to the defense side. I joined The Hull Firm in 2021.
Since then, I’ve continued to share what I know: I train prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement on DWI law, and I lecture regularly for the State Bar of Texas. Staying current with how the prosecution side of DWI law is evolving is part of what makes the defense work better.
Practice Focus
My practice centers on DWI and DUI defense, where my prosecution background gives clients a direct advantage. I also handle drug charges, assault and family violence cases, violent crimes, and serious felonies across Austin and Central Texas.
I know how Travis County builds DWI prosecutions because I built them. First-offense through felony DWI, ALR hearings, blood test challenges, DWI with child passenger, intoxication assault. DWI defense overview →
As the special prosecutor for complex blood DWI cases, I understand both sides of toxicology evidence. Retrograde extrapolation, chain of custody, Intoxilyzer reliability. BAC defense →
Extensive trial experience from intoxication manslaughter and assault prosecutions. I understand how serious violent felonies are evaluated and where the defense has leverage. Assault defense →
Possession, controlled substance, and trafficking charges across all penalty groups. Fourth Amendment suppression strategy and diversion program eligibility evaluation. Drug defense →
Family violence designation defense, protective order challenges, no-drop policy navigation. Understanding the prosecution’s approach to family violence from the DA side changes how we defend it. Family violence defense →
As the Travis County DA’s DWI Diversion Court representative, I understand the full ALR system from the government side. We file the day you retain us — the 15-day deadline waits for no one. ALR hearing guide →
Recognition & Awards
- Top Attorney for Criminal Defense — Austin Monthly Magazine, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Prosecutor of the Year — 2016, Travis County
- DWI Law Educator — Trains prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement on DWI law
- State Bar of Texas Speaker — Lectures regularly for the State Bar of Texas on DWI and criminal defense
- Avvo Rating — Verified attorney profile with client reviews
What the Prosecution Background Actually Changes
People ask why it matters that I used to be a prosecutor. Here’s the concrete answer:
When a DWI case comes in, I evaluate the evidence the same way I did from the other side — looking at what the prosecution needs to prove and where it’s weakest. I know when a blood test result has a chain-of-custody problem that a prosecutor will try to work around. I know when a field sobriety test was administered in a way that creates a suppression issue. I know how the Vehicular Crimes unit evaluates a case for trial versus a plea.
That knowledge isn’t theoretical. It’s the difference between a defense that waits to see what the prosecution does, and a defense that gets there first.
I served as the Travis County DA’s representative to the DWI Diversion Court. I understand the program eligibility standards, the evaluation criteria, and how prosecutors decide who gets offered diversion versus who gets prosecuted to the full extent. That context matters when we’re evaluating options for a client. DWI defense overview →
Questions About Working With Allison Tisdale
Talk to Allison Tisdale About Your Case
Former Travis County DWI prosecutor. Now defending the people she used to prosecute. Free consultations, 24/7.