Owner and Principal attorney

Erik M. Locascio

As a former felony prosecutor, Erik M. Locascio has tried many cases as first chair, including assaults, drug cases, DWIs, and a variety of others. He additionally handled hundreds of cases from initial arrest to final disposition, including pleas and other hearings. Erik is skilled in all aspects of criminal law, including punishment hearings; bail hearings; cross-examination of civilian and police witnesses; motions to suppress evidence; and more.  

During his time at the University of Houston Law Center, he was a finalist in the John Black Moot Court Competition, as well as a member of the Mock Trial team. As a third-year law student, Erik served as the Executive Chair of the Board of Advocates, where he was ultimately responsible for all of the student-run advocacy competitions at the Law Center, including Moot Court, Mock Trial, Mediation, and Client Counseling competitions. Erik also served as a Research Assistant to Professor Merle Morris in the Legal Writing Center. Finally, Erik served as both a Student Attorney and a Graduate Fellow in the Civil Practice Clinic, where he worked on a variety of family and civil cases. Erik is also a trained mediator. 

Beginning the Fall of 2018, Erik was selected to run and direct the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Defense Practice Clinic, where his students actively learn hands-on advocacy skills on real-world criminal cases. In the Clinic, students are placed in the role of student attorney to learn every aspect of a criminal case, from initial arrest all the way to a potential trial. 

In April of 2019, Erik joined the Harris County Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender, assigned to the Felony Trial Division. While there, he handled hundreds of cases in a span of three years, highlights of which include two murder case dismissals.

While a student at the University of Texas at Austin, Erik received the Liberal Arts Endowed Presidential Scholarship; served as the President of the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta; and was a Distinguished College Scholar.

Education

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW CENTER
J.D., 2011

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
B.A., English, 2007

Activities & Affiliations

• Director, University of Houston Law Center Criminal Defense Clinic

• State Bar College, Member

• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member

• Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, Member

Bar Admissions

• Texas, 2011