About Jessi
Jessica 'Jessi' Shaye Freud, Criminal Defense Attorney
An attorney exclusively practicing criminal defense - trial, appeals, and post-conviction - Jessi represents Central Texans in McLennan and select surrounding counties. As a resident of Austin, and with the main law office in Waco, Jessi and Freud Law P.C. are uniquely positioned to serve a wide geographic region of Central Texas. Jessi has represented clients in McLennan, Hill, Bell, Coryell, Comanche, Lampases, Travis, Williamson, Dallas, Tarrant, Parker, Hidalgo, Cameron, Nueces, and Bexar Counties.
Since being admitted to the Texas Bar in 2015, Jessi has tried over 30 misdemeanor and felony cases before juries, including first-degree felonies such as murder, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated robbery. Jessi is approved by the Third Administrative Judicial Region of Texas to act as assistant court-appointed trial counsel in death penalty cases. In 2018, she was selected for membership to the National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 in Texas criminal defense. National Trial Lawyers is a professional organization composed of premier trial lawyers from across the country who exemplify superior qualifications as civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial lawyers. Jessi is also a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and McLennan County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. In 2017, online legal resource Avvo.com recognized Jessi with a Clients’ Choice Award, which is based on verified reviews by former clients. She was also recognized by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year in 2019. Jessi's work has been covered in both local and national publications and media, such as The Waco Tribune, New York Times Magazine, 20/20, Washington Post, and The Marshall Project, among others.
Prior to practicing law, Jessi was a cable news production assistant, and junior speechwriter and legislative aide to a governor. Following the completion of her master’s degree in public administration, Jessi graduated from Baylor Law School with a degree concentration in criminal law. While at Baylor, Jessi began working with the Innocence Project of Texas. In late 2018, she joined the organization as a staff attorney where she focuses on post-conviction DNA litigation and other special litigation projects, as well as co-teaches an innocence clinic at a regional law school. In 2021, she joined Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) as an adjunct instructor for its 3-day courtroom testimony course, attended by law enforcement statewide.
John Sigmund Freud
Of Counsel, Attorney
John S. Freud is Of Counsel to Freud Law P.C. Of Counsel means that he has a special relationship with this firm but is not an associate or partner. John's role with Freud Law P.C. is to counsel and collaborate on trial and plea negotiation strategy and preparation.
A recovering civil trial lawyer of 35 years, John has been the President of Mediation Solutions, Inc., a Florida-based civil mediation practice, since 1997. Before founding Mediation Solutions, he managed his own civil law practice in Miami, Florida. John has been honored as a listed Mediator in Trend's Legal Elite, 2007/2008; Florida Superlawyers, 2010-2016; Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, 1993-2012.
John is a graduate of Brandeis University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1978) and the University of Miami School of Law (J.D. 1981). John is licensed with the State Bar of Texas, and still maintains his license to practice law with the Florida Bar.
John is a Florida state certified Circuit Civil/County/Appellate mediator. He is a federally listed mediator in all Federal District Courts in Florida. Additionally, he is a NASD certified mediator and arbitrator (inactive), and a listed mediator and arbitrator with Construction Dispute Resolution Services. He is also a Board Member of the National Association of Distinguished Neutrals and a Diplomate Member of The Florida Association of Professional Mediators (20 year anniversary recognition).