The Vela Law Firm is a family business. Established in Houston in 2009, the Vela Law Firm has protected and helped thousands of families over the years. The Vela brothers come from a family of winners dating back for generations, and have a long history of helping people all over the state of Texas. The Vela's are 5th generation Texans, and take pride in their humble beginnings in Duvall County, and the Rio Grande Valley.
This Vela blood line can be traced back to over 200 years ago living on the lands of South Texas. Originally starting as ranchers in what is now Duvall County, Texas, the Vela's lived off the land and raised cattle. As the years went on and as early Texas began to take shape the Vela family was eventually forced to take to the fields to pick cotton and watermelon. Determined to make a better life and take the Vela's out of the fields, their Grandmother, Kathryn Vela, made it her life mission to instill education into the family as the mechanism for success. She eventually became a local school principal, and member of the local school board, where she led the charge in school reform and championed access to education for the poor. She had five children, three of them would become doctors. One of the Dr.'s would be Jose Julio Vela - Senior.
In the early 1960's, Dr. Jose Julio Vela graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, with a degree in pharmacy. Dr. Vela moved to Houston, Texas, where he opened two pharmacies - one off of Westheimer and the other in Southeast Houston. When his younger brother, Dr. Robert Vela, entered medical school, Dr. Vela, decided to sell both his pharmacies, and join his younger brother at the world renowned UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. After graduating, Dr. Vela received his specialty degree in Gastroenterology from what is now Baylor - Scott and White Medical School. After educating himself, Dr. Vela was ready to give back to the community, and joined with his two younger brothers - Dr. Robert Vela and Dr. Rene Vela - to form the Vela Medical Center, in Corpus Christi.
Dr. Vela practiced medicine until his passing in 2009, and has six children. As the story goes you can judge a person by the fruit they bear. The oldest, Dr. Joel Julio Vela, is a pedodontist (children's dentist) here in Houston. The second, Dr. Jessica Gonzalez, is a pediatrician in San Antonio. The third, fourth, and fifth - Jose Julio Vela Jr, Jonathan Julio Vela, & Jacob Julio Vela - formed the Vela Law Firm here in Houston. And the sixth, Katie Vela, is completing dental school. Currently, there are 16 other 1st cousins who are all Dr.'s and lawyers spread all over Texas and Louisiana.
Jose Julio Vela Jr, the eldest of the brothers in the Vela Law Firm, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he gave a commencement speech and was one of two student body presidents. He went on to graduate from South Texas College of Law in Houston, and went on to get his post doctorate in Health law (LLM) from the University of Houston, which was the #1 program in the United States at the time. Jonathan Julio Vela, the next brother in the Vela Law Firm, graduated from the nationally recognized Mccombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, and went on to graduate from South Texas College of Law in Houston. Jacob Julio Vela is a graduate of South Texas College of Law and has fought against the death penalty for his clients in Washington D.C. and across Texas.
From an early age it was undisputed the Vela brothers would eventually form a law practice, and continue on the Vela legacy of excellence. In 2009 the eldest, Jose Julio Vela Jr, began to practice law as a solo practitioner and awaited the arrival of his two brothers. With the foundation set and the eventual arrival of his two brothers the Vela Law firm has exploded with success. Charged with a deep desire to help those who need help, and with excellence as part of the Vela's DNA, they have helped and protected thousands of people across the State. Their trial record is one of the best in town, and their reputation as champions of the courtroom builds every day. As the saying goes, "excellence is a habit," and the Vela Law Firm is the living embodiment of the habit of excellence. Call them today, speak with one of the Vela Brothers, and see for yourself. (346) 444-8352
EDUCATION & AFFILIATIONS
EDUCATION
- B.A., University of Texas at Austin - May 2006
- J.D., South Texas College of Law Houston - May 2009
- L.L.M., University of Houston Law Center - December 2011
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
- Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- CLE Publication - A Step-by-Step Approach for the General Practitioner
- CLE Presentation - Trial Tactics with J. Julio Vela;
- CLE Presentation - Voir Dire; 20th Annual Top Gun
AWARDS
- Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association Lawyer of the Year (2022)
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EDUCATION
- B.B.A., University of Texas at Austin – McCombs School of Business - May 2017
- J.D., South Texas College of Law Houston - May 2020
ADMISSIONS
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas - February 2021
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Texas Criminal Lawyers Association
- Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Texas Young Lawyers Association
- Mexican-American Bar Association of Houston
- Hispanic Bar Association of Houston
- Corpus Christi Bar Association
- Texas Bar College
- National College for DUI Defense
- DUI Defense Lawyer's Association
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- CLE Publication - A Step-by-Step Approach for the General Practitioner
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EDUCATION
- B.B.A., St. Mary's University
- J.D., South Texas College of Law Houston
ADMISSIONS
- Texas State Bar Association
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Texas Criminal Lawyers Association
- Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Negotiations for Getting Off Death and for a Plea; Mental Health and Capital Litigation Seminar, 2023; Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association.
- CLE Publication - A Step-by-Step Approach for the General Practitioner
