About Jose
Jose Julio Vela is a seasoned Harris County trial lawyer whose practice is built around preparation, courtroom experience, and the defense of people facing serious criminal accusations.
He attended the University of Texas at Austin before earning his J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston in 2009. He later earned an LL.M. in health law from the University of Houston Law Center in 2011.
His practice includes death-penalty litigation at the state and federal levels. He has delivered numerous continuing-legal-education presentations and served in leadership roles within criminal-defense organizations, including the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association.
Outside the courtroom, Jose is the father of four children and an enthusiastic Texas Longhorns fan.
Jose has tried more than 100 jury trials to verdict over the course of his legal career. In 2022, the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association honored him with its “Lawyer of the Year” award.