About Derek
Derek Ritchie is an attorney who practices in Texas and serves as the principal of his own firm. He presents himself plainly, preferring direct advocacy over flourish. Colleagues and clients see a lawyer who manages casework hands-on and handles courtroom tasks personally.
He studied at the University of Texas at Austin, where he completed his law degree in 2016 and later earned an LL.M. in 2018. Those academic years gave him time to study procedure and statutory detail. They also gave him a base for practice in Texas courts.
Ritchie’s bar jurisdiction is Texas. He has aligned his professional life with organizations that reflect his practice areas. He holds memberships in the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Texas Criminal Defense Laywers Association, and he is involved in the Family Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association. Those affiliations anchor him in both criminal defense circles and local family law practice networks.
Early in his career he moved between courtroom work and client counseling. He has spent time in hearings, negotiated plea matters, and appeared at contested family law proceedings. He tends to handle matters himself rather than delegate the core tasks of case preparation and courtroom advocacy. That hands-on approach shapes the way his office communicates with clients and manages deadlines.
At The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC, he oversees case intake and strategy. The firm carries his name and his approach. Work there includes representing individuals in criminal matters and assisting families in divorce and custody disputes. He and his small team prioritize swift case assessment and direct client contact to keep cases moving in the Texas system.
Ritchie participates in local professional life beyond individual cases. He attends association meetings and educational events to stay current on procedural changes and local practice norms. He also exchanges practice notes with other criminal and family law practitioners in San Antonio, which informs his courtroom tactics and case management.
He is based in Texas and continues to accept cases in criminal defense and family law. He currently practices criminal defense and family law in Texas.
