About Lisa Shapiro
Lisa Shapiro Strauss built her legal foundation in classrooms before moving into courtrooms. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Arizona and later took her law degree at Southern Methodist University. Those academic stops set the stage for a career in Texas criminal law.
Strauss began public service early. In 1997 she joined the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district lawyer. That role put her in the middle of courtroom work from the start. She handled prosecutions, learned trial procedure and gained direct experience with evidence and witness handling. The job also shaped her practical approach to case preparation and courtroom tactics.
Over time Strauss shifted into defense work and into local professional networks. She has been active in the Harris County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association for more than a decade. She joined the association’s board of directors in 2014 and was elected vice president in 2016, positions she continues to hold. Those roles involve coordinating with peers, participating in policy discussions and helping organize educational programs for other lawyers in the region.
Her jurisdictional practice is in Texas. Strauss’s membership in county-level defense organizations ties her closely to Harris County and the surrounding courts. She is known among colleagues for a steady courtroom presence and for seeking practical resolutions when that course suits a client’s interests.
Colleagues describe Strauss as an attorney who keeps her work rooted in procedure and precedent. She spends time preparing cases for trial and for hearings. She is present at the courthouse regularly and maintains professional ties through bar and association activities. Her background in the district attorney’s office gives her experience on both sides of criminal cases. That perspective informs how she evaluates evidence and negotiates outcomes for clients.
Strauss balances casework with association service. In leadership roles she has helped shape programming for defense attorneys and contributed to local continuing legal education efforts. She remains an active member of the Harris County legal community and participates in events that address practice issues and courtroom procedure.
She continues to practice criminal law in Texas, representing clients in state court and participating in local bar and defense association activities.
