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Tad Nelson
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Attorney

Tad A. Nelson

It is more important to do right, than to be right

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We Can Help You

Contact Us Today For A Free Consultation

After a successful career as a prosecutor, Tad Nelson opened the doors to a different type of law firm. Mr. Nelson wanted to create a unique law firm that was more concerned with the client’s well-being than the fee the client could generate. Tad understood that a client charged with a criminal act needs someone to assist with the emotional stresses of being arrested, as much as the legal issues. Well-being does not always mean just getting the client a “good deal”. Well-being means helping the client understand the process, well-being means explaining all the obstacles that the client faces, and most of all, well-being means assuring the client that you are doing everything you can to achieve a satisfactory outcome and that all of their concerns are important to you.

Tad Nelson has created a unique Houston DWI defense law firm experience for his clients; where they can sit and ask questions in a relaxed atmosphere until their concerns are addressed. The serious criminal defense firm of Tad Nelson & Associates provides the client with “big city experience, with small-town values”.

Tad Nelson is a lifelong resident of the Texas Gulf Coast region. Mr. Nelson was born on Galveston Island and graduated from the local public high school, Galveston Ball in 1983. After graduation, Mr. Nelson traveled to Austin to attend the University of Texas.

Tad Nelson started his legal career as a State Prosecutor under the supervision of Michael J. Guarino. Tad Nelson served as an Assistant District Attorney from 1992 to 1995 with distinction. Mr. Nelson was always ready to try the toughest of cases, but he never forgot the importance of doing what was morally and ethically correct. As a prosecutor Tad always said, ”It is more important to do right, than to be right”. It was during this time that Tad Nelson learned the importance of service and its importance to the community. It was also during this time that Mr. Nelson learned the skills to be a serious effective criminal defense attorney.

At Nelson & Associates we understand the trauma that accompanies being arrested. You experience embarrassment, humiliation, concern about your family and most of all uncertainty about your future. We know this! We understand most people have never had to get a friend or a loved one out of jail, and we know that most people don’t even know where to start.

We also realize the anxiety associated with that first visit to an attorney’s office. Usually a prospective client sits in a waiting room surrounded by diplomas and plaques while filling out an information form. Then the client gets invited to an office with more of the same and sits across a huge desk from an attorney while they discuss the case. This is all very intimidating. At Tad Nelson & Associates we do all we can to make a prospective client feel both comfortable and confident; and we do our best to alleviate any stress you may have about the uncertainty of the criminal judicial system.

In both our Galveston and League City offices, we provide an atmosphere that is more of a home than an office. We allow clients to relax and we encourage them to ask questions until they are satisfied that they understand the road ahead. At Tad Nelson & Associates you benefit from our big city experience as well as our small-town values.

Tad A. Nelson

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1991

Supreme Court of Texas

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas

Professional Associations & Memberships

American Trial Lawyers Association

Texas State Bar Association

Texas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Galveston County Criminal Lawyers Association

Galveston County Bar Association

National College for DUI Defense

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Texas Trial Lawyers Association

Harris County Lawyers Association

Harris County Bar Association

State Bar College

Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Past Employment Positions

1995 – 2012

Criminal Defense Practice (Houston/Galveston Area)

1995 – Present

Attorney Tad Nelson Received Board Certification in Criminal Defense by the Texas Board of Legal Specializatio

1992 – 1995

Galveston County District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney

1995-present

Galveston Community College, Adjunct Professor of Business Law

Pro Bono Activities

Board Member

CBig Brothers and Big Sisters of the Gulf Coast

Rotary Club of Galveston

Past President

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Gulf Coast

Lions Club of League City

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6271Tad A. Nelson

Awards

Super Lawyers

The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates is pleased to announce that founder and attorney Tad A. Nelson has been selected, for the sixth consecutive year, as a Super Lawyer. The award is indicative of Nelson’s success in the legal field and is a significant honor.

What Is Super Lawyers and How Does the Selection Process Work?

According to the Super Lawyers’ website, Super Lawyers is an attorney rating service that focuses on outstanding lawyers in more than 70 practice areas. The process of selecting an attorney is no quick or easy feat – each candidate is evaluated on 12 different indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.

The process starts with a nomination; lawyers cannot nominate themselves, nor can they campaign for nominations. After a nomination has been received, independent research on the 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement is conducted. While each indicator is given a different weight, they are all considered to be important by Super Lawyers. The 12 factors are whether or not the lawyer holds any special licenses or certifications, has received awards or honors, years of experience, representative clients, transactions, verdict and settlement history, their position within the law firm, bar status and professional activities, pro bono work and community service, scholarly lectures and writings, education and employment background, and any other outstanding achievements.

The process doesn’t end there – after independent research is conducted, a comprehensive peer evaluation phase takes place. Finally, there is the final selection. Candidates who are under the age of 40 or have been practicing for fewer than 10 years may be selected as Super Lawyers’ “Rising Star,” which comprises approximately 2.5 percent of candidates. Approximately five percent of lawyers are selected to Super Lawyers.

What You Need to Know About Attorney Tad Nelson

Being selected to Super Lawyers for the sixth year in a row is no small achievement, and can be attributed to Nelson’s experience in the legal field, the reputation of excellence, and various professional engagements and achievements. He maintains a legal specialty certification in capital murder trials pertaining to the death penalty and has been admitted to the Texas Bar, Supreme Court of Texas Bar, U.S. Supreme Court Bar, and the U.S. District Court of Southern Texas Bar. Not only is he guided by his legal acumen and knowledge, but also by his ethics, firmly believing that it is better to do right than be right.

6270Tad A. Nelson
6272Tad A. Nelson
281-962-7853

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Awards

Martindale-Hubbell ®

For the fifth consecutive year, Attorney Tad A. Nelson has received the Martindale-Hubbell ® AV Preeminent rating. AV peer-review ratings are considered to be the gold standard in attorney ratings, and we are honored.

The Martindale-Hubbell ® Rating – What Does It Mean?

According to martindale.com, the Martindale-Hubbell ® Peer-Review Ratings ™ are designed to recognize a lawyer for their “strong legal ability and high ethical standards.”

An attorney who goes through the peer-review rating process may qualify for one of three different prestigious ratings: AV Preeminent, distinguished, or notable. While each of the three is indicative of an attorney who has been recognized by their peers as a star or leader in their field, and who maintains high standards in their work, AV Preeminent is by far the most esteemed of the award types. Indeed, in order to receive a Martindale-Hubbell ® rating of AV Preeminent, the lawyer must be ranked by a large number of their peers as having achieved a high level of communication skills, professional excellence, and ethical standards. The rating is not given without just cause and thorough consideration.

How the Process Works

The process of getting a Martindale-Hubbell ® rating begins with submitting a form listing attorney references for the sake of accumulating peer reviews. In order to submit the form asking for references, an attorney must be practicing in the United States or Canada, have a profile on martindale.com, and maintain bar membership for at least three years. The references that an attorney submits must also be practicing attorneys themselves or sitting judges, and must also be within the Martindale-Hubbell ® database.

How quickly an attorney is able to receive a rating is dependent upon numerous factors, including how long it takes for attorney references to complete the review of the individual attorney. Of course, some attorneys who ask for peer reviews may not get the responses they are hoping for.

Attorney Tad Nelson Strives for Excellence

The AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell ® is a reflection of Tad’s commitment to excellence and maintenance of the highest of standards. Not only does Tad employ a high level of legal practices during his cases, but he also focuses on a human element of legal work too: relating to the client, making sure the client feels understood and comfortable and working for the client as he would a member of his own family. His compassion for his clients and his passion for justice are two of the defining characteristics that set him apart from other attorneys.

Learn More About the Law Offices of Tad Nelson Today

If you have a legal issue in Galveston, League City, or Houston and want a qualified, committed attorney handling your case, contact attorney Tad Nelson today for a legal consultation. You can reach our law office by calling us at (281) 280-0100, or sending us a message telling us more about your case. Please feel free to ask questions about your legal options and our background and experience. We look forward to serving you.

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