Atticus Finch grew up in Sugar Land, Texas, falling asleep to the wail of the Midnight Special – the fabled train which passed by Central Unit, the local prison, each night. The story goes that if the light of the Midnight Special cast its light on you within your cell, you would soon be freed. Atticus knew as he listened that the inmates just down the road were listening too. Of course, the light of the train could hardly reach the prison through the pecan grove planted between them – and magical trains are seldom the basis for legal relief. But the experience stuck with Atticus.
Atticus graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Political Science and History, with a minor in philosophy. While at Texas State, Atticus served as the president of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and was inducted into the Phi Alpha Delta Society of Scholars. Outside of the classroom, Atticus worked as a legal assistant for a criminal defense practice and as a legal transcriptionist specializing in CPS cases.
Atticus attended the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. There, Atticus focused on gathering clinical experience assisting criminal defendants and students with disabilities. Atticus also served as a Pro Bono Scholar, running one of the law school’s clinics for a year.
After graduation, Atticus went on to work for the Texas Defender Service (TDS), a nonprofit aimed at ending excessive punishment in Texas. Atticus specialized in assisting folks on death row obtain post-conviction relief. To that end, Atticus learned how to challenge faulty and unreliable forensic evidence, as well as how to get relief for clients who had been ineffectively represented by previous attorneys. At TDS, Atticus led multiple research teams and investigations, including in cases with active death warrants. Atticus also handled parole cases, and he has been trained as a Victim Outreach Specialist (VOS).
Atticus believes wholeheartedly that each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. People contain multitudes, and a true understanding of someone must be grounded in an appreciation of the systems and environments that shaped them. Atticus loves getting to connect with clients, and he is dedicated to providing cutting-edge and dependable advocacy for his clients – no matter what they are charged with.
When he’s outside the office, Atticus enjoys native plant gardening, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and spending time with his family and his dog, Scout.
