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Meet Joseph Ruiz

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Meet Joseph Ruiz

Joseph Ruiz

DWI & Criminal Defense Lawyer

Biography

Joseph Ruiz was born in Spain and raised in Houston, Texas from the age of 3. Following graduation from Klein Forest High School in 1997, Joseph earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Vanderbilt University in 2001 and his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2004. As a new lawyer working in civil litigation, he quickly realized that his true passion was fighting for the freedom and constitutional rights of individuals charged with crimes. He had to get into the courtroom to fight for the underdog.

Following a 9-year stint at a large law firm, and after trying hundreds of jury trials, Mr. Ruiz launched the Law Office of Joseph Ruiz, PLLC in 2016 with the mission of expanding access to exceptional, personalized DWI and criminal defense representation to the people of Harris County, and its surrounding counties. While the firm can handle any type of criminal case, it continues to maintain an emphasis in DWI-related charges. As a member of The State Bar College, Joseph routinely completes 3-4 times the required number of continuing legal education hours annually to constantly improve his ability to defend his clients. In 2023, he received the Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation by the American Chemical Society, a level of preparation only achieved by 130 lawyers nationwide. This intensive hands-on training in forensic blood testing allows him to effectively attack the evidence in cases where the law intersects with science. He was selected as a Super Lawyer for DWI/Criminal Law in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, is AV-Preeminent-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, enjoys a 10/10 AVVO rating, was selected by Houstonia Magazine as a Top Lawyer, and has been featured on the Houston Chronicle’s Best Criminal Lawyer’s List several years running.

He keeps his sword sharp by being an active member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Harris County Criminal Lawyer’s Association, The National College of DUI Defense, DUI Defense Lawyers Association, National Trial Lawyers and the American Chemical Society.

He has lectured other attorneys on trial techniques on numerous occasions and has authored several articles as well.

Additionally, as a fluent Spanish speaker, Joseph is uniquely positioned to protect a broader cross-section of the community. Based in a city as diverse as Houston, Texas, Mr. Ruiz has had the pleasure of representing clients from literally every corner of the world. Mr. Ruiz believes it to be an honor and privilege to advocate for his clients’ freedom and to protect their futures, so that they can go on to achieve everything they want out of life.

Joseph is happily married and has 3 wonderful boys – Leonardo, Lucas, and Lorenzo, ages 7, 5, and 2. He enjoys running, cycling, weight training, pilates, reading, and traveling in his spare time.

Memberships & Affiliations

  • AV-Rated Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers – Criminal Defense
  • AVVO 10/10 Superb Rating
  • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
  • Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
  • DUI Defense Lawyers Association
  • State Bar of Texas, Criminal Justice Section
  • College of the State Bar of Texas
  • Municipal Justice Bar Association of Texas

The State Bar of Texas mandates that lawyers complete at least 15 hours of CLE (continuing legal education) every year in order to maintain their license in good standing. As a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Mr. Ruiz has committed to doing at least 30 hours of CLE annually. In order to stay abreast of the rapidly changing legal landscape and keep his sword sharp, Joseph far exceeds the College’s requirements by completing approximately 50 hours of additional training every year. The following represent some, but not all, of the additional training that Mr. Ruiz has recently undertaken to better prepare to defend his clients:

2011

  • 2/19/11 Renee Gonnzalez Practical Skills Traffic Law Seminar (7 hours)
  • 3/4/11 Cross-examination (14 hours)
  • 6/16/11 Investigation: How to get everything you need for trial or dismissal (1 hour)
  • 8/12/11 9th annual top gun DWI – blood, breath and beyond (13.25 hours)
  • 8/20/11 19th annual traffic law update (6 hours)
  • 9/9/11 Class C misdemeanors (1 hour)
  • 9/22/11 2011 Legislative Update (1.5 hours)
  • 11/17/11 Defending drug cases (1 hour)
  • 12/9/11 Class C misdemeanors (1 hour)
  • 12/9/11 Speaking engagement on trial tactics (3.5 hours)
  • 12/15/11 Non-disclosures and expunction practice (1 hour)

2012

  • 1/19/12 The brain on trial: neuroscience and criminal conduct (1 hour)
  • 2/14/12 Jury selection (1.5 hours)
  • 2/23/12 Eyewitness identification: wrongful convictions & trial (1 hour)
  • 3/29/12 ALR/Occupational license practice in Harris County (1 hour)
  • 4/26/12 Federal practice (1 hour)
  • 5/11/12 Class C misdemeanors (1 hour)
  • 5/17/12 Trial tactics from the trenches (1 hour)
  • 6/9/12 25th annual Rusty Duncan advanced criminal law course (17.50 hours)
  • 6/21/12 Presenting the defense case: closing argument (1.5 hours)
  • 8/10/12 Class C misdemeanors (1 hour)
  • 8/25/12 20th annual traffic law update (7 hours)
  • 8/30/12 Cross-examining expert witnesses (1.5 hours)
  • 9/27/12 How to get what you need: subpoenas and open records practice (1 hour)
  • 12/6/12 Notable proposed bills in the Texas legislature (1 hour)

2013

  • 1/11/13 Class C misdemeanors
  • 1/31/13 Defending criminal cases: trial preparation (1.5 hours)
  • 3/1/13 Handling you next DWI case (6.25 hours)
  • 5/31/13 Training day: criminal law (9 hours)
  • 8/17/13 21st annual traffic law update (7 hours)
  • 8/22/13 Criminal defenses (1.5 hours)
  • 8/23/13 11th annual top gun DWI (7 hours)
  • 9/26/13 Closing arguments (1 hour)

2014

  • 1/30/14 Pre-trial motion practice (1 hour)
  • 2/6/14 Understanding the Michael Morton Act (1.5 hours)
  • 2/22/14 Renee Gonzalez practical skills traffic law seminar (7 hours)
  • 3/26/14 Handling sexual assault cases (1.5 hours)
  • 4/30/14 Effective jury selection (1.5 hours)
  • 5/8/14 Forensic laboratory accreditation and cross-examination (2 hours)
  • 5/28/14 Handling DWI cases (1.5 hours)
  • 7/11/14 Lonestar DWI: blood draw cases (7.25 hours)
  • 7/30/14 Opening statements: finding the theme of your case (1.5 hours)
  • 8/16/14 22nd annual traffic law update (7 hours)
  • 9/1/14 Legal writing credit for published article: Prostitution Trial Tactics (8 hours)
  • 9/18/14 Standard field sobriety tests (1 hour)
  • 9/18/14 How to win with bad facts (1.5 hours)

2015

  • 1/15/15 How to try criminal cases without being afraid (1.5 hours)
  • 2/19/15 Guns & ammo for lawyers (2 hours)
  • 3/6/15 A taste of jury selection (13.5 hours)
  • 6/22/15 Self-study credit
  • 7/16/15 How to secure an acquittal (1.5 hours)
  • 8/15/15 23rd annual traffic law update (7 hours)
  • 8/21/15 13th annual top gun DWI (7.25 hours)
  • 11/12/15 Making objections at trial (1.5 hours)
  • 11/20/15 Dealing with the practice: balance & ethics (6.25 hours)
  • 12/10/15 Trial techniques: tips, tricks, and traps (1.5 hours)

2016

  • 3/22/16Defending DWI Blood test cases (1.5 hours)
  • 2/24/16petitions for non-disclosures & expunctions (1.5 hours)
  • 2/13/16Renee gonzalez practical skill traffic law seminar X (7 hours)
  • 1/22/16Rethinking criminal justice 2016 (6.75 hours)

2017

  • 3/28/17Grand Jury packets (1.50 hours)
  • 5/30/17Lessons from the past: how to prepare to win (1.50 hours)
  • 6/21/1730th Annual rusty duncan advanced criminal law course (14 hours)
  • 6/28/17Defending people while dealing with adversity (1.50 hours)
  • 8/17/1715th Annual top gun DWI (7.25 hours)
  • 8/22/17E-file in harris county criminal courts (2 hours)
  • 11/30/17Cross examination skills (2.50 hours)

2018

  • 1/26/185th annual lone star DWI – Drugs, Blood, and DWI (6.75 hours)
  • 2/17/18Teaching at Accredited CLE activity (4 hours)
  • 3/9/18Harris county class C misdemeanors 3918 (1 hours)
  • 4/25/18DUIDLA 2018 spring seminar (12.50 hours)
  • 8/15/18Defending People (1.50 hours)
  • 9/12/18Phones, Forensics, & Snitches (13 hours)

2019

  • 6/12/1932nd Annual rusty duncan (17.75 hours)
  • 8/15/19Teaching at accredited CLE activity (2 hours)
  • 8/15/19legal writing credit ()7.50 hours
  • 8/15/1917th annual top gun (6 hours)
  • 9/3/19Lanier trail academy master class 4.0 (16.75 hours)
  • 9/18/19DUIDLA fall seminaer (12.50 hours)
  • 10/17/19Pozner on cross: the chapter method (6 hours)

2020

  • 1/31/20DNA (7.25 hours)
  • 2/22/20Teaching at accredited CLE activity (4.50 hours)
  • 5/3/20mindful monday -P050420 (1 hours)
  • 5/10/20mindful monday -P051120 (1 hours)
  • 8/13/20Top gun DWI XVIII (7.75 hours)
  • 11/13/20Handing your first (or next) criminal appeals case (6 hours)

2021

  • 1/16/212021 Winter session: from interview to verdict (11.25 hours)
  • 3/9/21Cross examination (12.75 hours)
  • 3/16/21Mitigation / investigator (1.75 hours)
  • 5/10/21Federal court practice 2019 (Qualifies for admission to sout) (6.50 hours)
  • 5/12/212021 Attorney admission workshop (2 hours)
  • 7/14/212021 Summer session (5.50 hours)

2022

  • 1/21/229th annual lone star DWI: back in the fight (6.50 hours)
  • 2/24/22Strategies from personal injury trail titans: evaluating and (1.50 hours)
  • 3/21/22Padilla v. kentucky for criminal defense attorneys (1 hour)
  • 6/16/2235th Annual rusty duncan advanced criminal law course (18.50 hours)
  • 6/20/22lanier trail academy master class 6.0 (19 hours)

2023

  • 4/13/23 Representing Clients with Immigration Holds (1.5 hours)
  • 6/8/23 Mitigation: The Gold Standard (1.5 hours)
  • 6/14/23 Lanier Trial Academy Master Class 7.0 (19.25 hours)
  • 8/11/23 Top Gun DWI XXI (7.25 hours)
  • 8/31/23 Bond Revocations: Reviving Due Process in Harris County (2 hours)
  • 10/6/23 Parole, Prison, and Related Issues (14 hours)
  • 12/4/23 Prosecuting & Defending Truck and Auto Collision Cases (12 hours)

2024

  • 1/25/24 Negotiations are Hard Work (1 hour)
  • 1/26/24 Defending Vehicular Crimes: Alcohol and Drugs (7.75 hours)
  • 2/21/24 Winning MAJS and MRPs Through Creative Problem Solving (1.5 hours)
  • 2/27/24 Mediation (1 hour)
  • 2/27/24 Opening & Closing CLE / Workshop (7 hours)
  • 4/11/24 2024 DUIDLA Spring Seminar (12.25 hours)
  • 4/30/24 Running A Law Practice – Starting to Established (1 hour)
  • 8/16/24 Top Gun DWI XXII Decoding DUI (8.25 hours)
  • 8/26/24 From Contact to Client (1 hour)
  • 8/26/24 My View from the Other Side: Tips and Strategies for Maximi (1 hour)
  • 9/13/24 Other Self-study (3 hours)
  • 10/23/24 50 Trial Tips in 50 Minutes (1 hour)

2025

  • 2/25/25 Using Rules of the Road Know What You Are Doing and Why to I (1 hour)
  • 6/28/25 New Laws – What Passed and What Didn’t Pass (1 hour)
  • 8/15/25 23rd Annual Top Gun DWI (7.75 hours)
  • 9/3/25 Advanced Personal Injury Law (17.75 hours)
  • 11/6/25 Business of Law 2025 (17.25 hours)
  • 12/8/25 The Defense Never Rests (13 hours)
  • 12/11/25 Mastering Cross-Examination (1.5 hours)

2026

  • 1/15/26 2026 Winter Session: Beyond the Badge & Gun (13 hours)
  • 3/6/26 Mastering Evidence at Trial (14 hours)
  • 4/15/26 Cross Examining Experts: Sowing the Seed of Reasonable Doubt (1.5 hours)

Community Outreach

Aside from providing excellent representation to its clients, the firm also takes pride in giving back to the community. Unfortunately, several members of Joseph Ruiz’s family have had to endure battles with cancer. The firm makes it a priority to donate a portion of its proceeds to non-profits geared toward the advancement of cancer research and treatments and is always looking for opportunities to make a positive impact in the lives of cancer patients, especially children. Any non-profit organization seeking sponsorship from the Law Office of Joseph Ruiz is welcome to contact us today to discuss how we can team up to make a difference.

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