Bio
Derek Israel brings decades of law enforcement experience to his legal practice. Before becoming an attorney, Derek served as a Homicide Detective with the Austin Police Department, where he led numerous high-profile, complex investigations at both the state and federal levels. His work has been featured on multiple true crime television programs.
Throughout his law enforcement career, Derek also served as a Robbery Detective and conducted investigations into residential and commercial burglaries. He also worked in the DWI Unit as a certified Intoxilyzer operator and was an instructor in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing.

Derek is a veteran of the United States Army, where he served as a Military Intelligence Interrogator and Linguist. He was stationed in Germany and deployed to Saudi Arabia and Iraq during the First Gulf War. He is a past commander of The American Legion Post 76 in Austin.
Derek earned his law degree cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law. Prior to joining O’Connell West, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.
His practice focuses on Criminal Defense.
Education
- Texas Tech University School of Law,J.D., Cum Laude
- Texas A&M University School of Law, Master of Jurisprudence
- West Texas A&M University, B.B.A., Magna Cum Laude, Beta Gamma Sigma
Bar Admissions
- Texas Supreme Court
- United States District Court, Western District of Texas
Professional Memberships
- State Bar of Texas
- Texas Bar College
- State Bar of Texas Criminal Justice Section
- American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section
Professional Experience
- O’Connell West, PLLC
- Assistant District Attorney, Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office
- Austin Police Department – Detective
- United States Army – Interrogator/ Linguist
Community Involvement
- Past Commander of American Legion Travis Post 76
Certifications
- Mediator
- Master Peace Officer
- Standardized Field Sobriety Test (previously)
- Intoxilyzer Operator (previously)