Doug Murphy Named Lawyer of the Year for 2023

 Posted on September 09, 2022 in Uncategorized

Attorney Doug. Murphy recently received the 2023 Lawyer of the Year for DWI Defense recognition by Best Lawyers. This prominent award from U.S. News & World Report is based entirely on peer review surveys of the quality of legal services provided by each lawyer. Best Lawyers has recognized Doug every year since 2013.

Lawyer of the Year Selection Process

Best Lawyers has used the same transparent methodology, incorporating a rigorous peer review process, for more than 40 years. Best Lawyers designed the process to capture the consensus opinions about the professional abilities of top lawyers in each area and each area of the law. This prestigious award is based solely on peer reviews from fellow attorneys.

• Lawyer of the Year Nominations

While any lawyer can nominate another lawyer for Lawyer of the Year recognition, only attorneys in private practice are eligible for the award. Corporate attorneys are not eligible, and lawyers may not nominate themselves. The primary sources of nominations are typically clients, other lawyers, and marketing teams, but the number of nominations an attorney receives will not affect the results.

• Lawyer of the Year Peer Review

Best Lawyers distributes ballots to currently recognized lawyers based on the nominated attorneys' geographic region and practice area. On the ballot, each attorney provides feedback on the quality of the nominated attorney's legal services. Best Lawyers designs its survey process to produce "meaningful and substantive" reviews of each nominated attorney's work. Reviewers cannot select the attorney they review, and the organization tailors the ballots to reach only attorneys in the same area of practice and the geographic region of the nominated attorneys. In other words, only those lawyers best placed to have in-depth knowledge of a nominated attorney's legal acumen and skill will review potential awardees. Lawyers may not review themselves.

• Lawyer of the Year Analysis

As part of the process, Best Lawyers asks each reviewing attorney, "If you were unable to take a case yourself, how likely would you be to refer it to this nominee?" The reviewing attorney will give the nominee a rating of one to five, with five meaning a lawyer would "definitely" refer a case to the nominee and one meaning a lawyer would "definitely not" refer a case to the nominee. Reviewers also have room to leave additional comments.

• Eligibility for Lawyer of the Year

After reviewing all reviewing information and comments and analyzing the results, Best Lawyers performs an eligibility check. Nominees must be in good standing with their local and state bar associations. Best Lawyers also cross-checks state bar sanction lists to ensure nominees are in good standing with their state bar ethics committees. The organization also verifies the contact information of each potential awardee to ensure that potential clients can reach them.

• Lawyer of the Year Results

To announce the results, Best Lawyers publishes the results in print and online. They also contact each lawyer they recognize via hard copy and email, notifying the marketing departments at each firm of the lawyers in the organization who will receive the award.

Attorneys Recognized as Lawyer of the Year

Best Lawyers recognizes only one Lawyer of the Year in each geographic location and each practice area. Doug Murphy is the sole Lawyer of the Year for DWI and DUI Defense in the Houston area. Because of the quality of the Best Lawyers review process, recognized Lawyers of the Year are some of the best legal talent in the area, approved by their fellow lawyers.

About Doug Murphy

Doug Murphy is a skilled, dedicated, and passionate leader in the Houston and Texas legal communities and across the United States. Doug is an expert in both criminal law and DWI defense. He is one of only two Texas attorneys Board Certified in DWI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense, accredited by the American Bar Association and the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Doug's expertise in both these specialty areas of the law makes him uniquely suited to handle complex criminal defense cases in DWI and many other areas. He is a past President of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, the largest local criminal defense bar in the United States. Doug also served two consecutive terms on the Board of Directors for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Doug is also a nationally recognized expert in DWI defense, previously serving as Dean of the Board of Regents for the National College for DUI Defense, and as President of the Harris County Criminal lawyers Association. He is frequently sought as a speaker at national criminal defense conferences and teaches other lawyers through continuing legal education classes and seminars in Texas and the United States. Doug has lectured at more than 120 seminars for lawyers across the United States.

With more than 23 years of experience in criminal defense litigation and trial work, Doug is a zealous advocate for his clients. While he is well known for his expertise in successfully defending DWI cases, he is also well known for his success in defending against other criminal allegations. Doug understands that an arrest and criminal charge can be one of the most vulnerable moments in a client's lifetime and feels it's a privilege to help them through trying times, protecting their rights. Doug has extensive experience in many areas of criminal defense, including:

• DWI, boating while intoxicated, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter;
• Domestic violence;
• Drug crimes such as drug possession, drug distribution, and drug manufacturing;
• White-collar crimes;
• Theft;
• Assault and related crimes;
• Prostitution and solicitation of prostitution;
• Homicide, sexual assault, and other serious felonies; as well as
• Federal crimes.

Doug is also known for tireless advocacy for his clients and the legal profession outside the courtroom. After his assistance in exposing problems with the Houston Police Department's Blood Alcohol Testing vans, the police department decommissioned the vans. As a result, the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association awarded him the Sharon Levine Unsung Hero Award. The Houston Press calls Doug the "Drinking Driver's Best Friend."

When you're facing an arrest and a criminal trial after a DWI, you need an expert in DWI defense by your side. Doug Murphy understands the intricacies of DWI defense and the importance of protecting your reputation, rights, and livelihood through his representation. Find out how Houston's 2023 DWI Lawyer of the Year can help you. Contact the Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. today for a consultation.