Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Most civil disputes are won long before trial — in the preparation, the positioning, and the judgment calls made in the first weeks of a case. That's where cases are lost, too.
Clay Harrison has spent nearly two decades trying cases. He has also decided them. As a former judge, he knows how the person behind the bench thinks — which arguments land, which quietly lose cases, and what actually moves a court. Every matter he takes gets built with that perspective from day one. Clay recently recovered more than $13 million for his clients in a contested civil case.
He represents individuals, businesses, and government entities in commercial defense and plaintiff's work, and serves as local counsel for major U.S. and international law firms — the lawyer other lawyers hire when their case lands in Hopkins County.
Why we only take Hopkins County cases
We accept civil cases in Hopkins County, Texas — nowhere else. Years of practicing in one county means we know the courts, the local bar, and how cases actually get decided here. Depth beats breadth. It also means we take a limited number of matters at a time, so every case gets trial-level preparation from the start.
Start with a Case Strategy Session — $400
One hour with Clay, in person or remote — your choice. You leave with:
- A candid assessment of your case's strengths and weaknesses
- The realistic range of outcomes and what it will take to get there
- A clear recommendation on whether to proceed — including telling you honestly if you don't need a lawyer
If we take your case, your $400 is credited toward your retainer.
Civil matters are billed hourly. We'll walk through expected costs in your session, so there are no surprises later.
Book your Case Strategy Session
Email main@clayharrisonlaw.com or call 903-270-0140.
Criminal Law
Prosecutor. Judge. Defense attorney. Clay has sat in every seat in the courtroom — now every one of those perspectives works for you.
A criminal charge threatens more than your freedom. It threatens your job, your license, your family, and a record that follows you for life. The outcome usually turns on decisions made early — what gets said, what gets filed, and what gets negotiated before trial is ever on the table.
Clay knows how those decisions get made, because he's made them from all three sides. He has prosecuted Texas cases from marijuana possession to murder, led a team of military prosecutors overseas, presided over criminal jury trials as a judge, and argued before Texas courts of appeals. He is Board-Certified in Criminal Law — a distinction only a small fraction of Texas attorneys ever earn.
When the State builds its case against you, you want the lawyer who knows exactly how they'll build it.
Why we only take Hopkins County cases
We accept criminal cases in Hopkins County, Texas — nowhere else. Defending in one county means we know the prosecutors, the courts, and how cases actually get resolved here. Depth beats breadth, and it means we take a limited number of cases so each one gets full attention.
Flat fees. No surprise bills.
Criminal defense is billed at a flat rate, set by the seriousness of the charge and the complexity of the case- no hourly meter running while you worry. Most cases resolve under that single fee. In the small number of cases that proceed to a contested trial, a separate flat trial fee applies. Flexible payment plans are available through Affirm.
Start with a free 15-minute call
Fifteen minutes, no charge, no obligation. You'll get a straight answer on what you're facing, what your options are, and whether we're the right firm to defend you.
Email main@clayharrisonlaw.com or call 903-270-0140.
Estate Planning
The best estate plans are never seen by a judge. That's the point.
A well-designed estate plan does three things: it keeps your estate out of probate court, it prevents disputes among your beneficiaries, and it makes things simple for the person who has to wind up your affairs. Without one, your family gets the opposite — months in probate, court costs eating the estate, and decisions about your property made by a judge instead of you.
Clay has spent his career in courtrooms, as a litigator and a former judge, and he has seen what happens when families show up to court without a plan. He designs every estate plan so yours never has to.
Flat fees, quoted upfront
Estate planning packages are billed at a flat rate — priced by whether the plan is for an individual or a married couple, which documents you need, and the complexity involved. You'll know the full cost before you commit. No hourly billing, no surprises.
Start with a free 15-minute call
Fifteen minutes, no charge. Tell us your situation and you'll get a straight answer on what documents you actually need — and what you don't.
Email main@clayharrisonlaw.com or call 903-270-0140.
Probate
You're grieving. You shouldn't also be learning probate law.
When a loved one passes away — with or without a will — someone has to settle the estate. If that's you, you've been handed a legal job you never applied for: court filings, deadlines, creditor notices, and family members watching every move. Done right, probate is a process. Done wrong, it becomes a fight.
Clay guides executors and administrators through the entire process — getting you appointed, keeping the estate on track, and getting assets to the people entitled to them. And because he's a trial lawyer and former judge, he's equipped for the cases where things get contested — and knows how to keep yours from becoming one.
Why we only take Hopkins County cases
We accept probate cases in Hopkins County, Texas — nowhere else. Probating estates in one county means we know the court, the clerks, and how estates actually move here. That's why local matters run smoother — and faster.
Flat fees, quoted upfront
Probate is billed at a flat rate, set by the complexity of the issues, the likelihood of contested litigation, and the size of the estate. You'll know the cost before you commit — the estate isn't drained by an hourly meter.
Start with a free 15-minute call
Fifteen minutes, no charge. Tell us your situation and you'll get a straight answer on whether the estate needs probate at all, what kind, and what it will take.
Email main@clayharrisonlaw.com or call 903-270-0140.
Collaborative Family Law
Divorce doesn't have to destroy what's left. There's a way to end a marriage without a courtroom war — and it's the only way we practice family law.
Litigated divorce runs on conflict: public filings, forced discovery, and two lawyers paid by the hour to fight. Collaborative divorce runs on resolution — and protects the three things litigation burns first: your finances, your privacy, and your ability to co-parent when it's over.
We believe in this process enough to stake our practice on it. Our firm handles new family law matters exclusively through the collaborative process.
How it works
- Out of court. Both spouses agree in writing to settle every issue — property, finances, and children — through negotiation, not litigation.
- Your own attorney. Each spouse has their own trained collaborative lawyer advocating for them throughout.
- Full transparency. Both sides share information openly and in good faith, without formal court discovery.
- Shared neutral experts. When helpful, the parties jointly use neutrals — a financial specialist, or a child or communication specialist when children are involved.
- Commitment to settle. If either party chooses to litigate, both attorneys must withdraw. Nobody profits from a fight — every incentive at the table points toward resolution.
One flat fee: $12,500 per party
That's the number — known before you start, not discovered invoice by invoice. Contested litigation offers no such certainty; costs there depend on how long the fight lasts. Flexible payment plans are available through Affirm.
Start with a free 15-minute call
Fifteen minutes, no charge. You'll get a straight answer on whether the collaborative process fits your situation — and if it doesn't, we'll tell you.
Want to go deeper first? Learn more at collabfamlawtx.com.
Email main@clayharrisonlaw.com or call 903-270-0140.
Criminal Defense Lawyer
About Clay Harrison, Attorney at Law P.L.L.C.
"I have flown through the jungle in a helicopter with Green Berets, and I have turned a Hopkins County bull into a Hopkins County steer by using a rubber band. I have advised a One-Star General on international law in Japan and I have mowed half the yards in Sulphur Springs. I have been island-hopping on a speed boat with Navy SEALs and I have divided pots and pans between divorcing couples in East Texas.
As a trial attorney, I have tried cases before judges and juries. As a judge, I have decided hard cases involving millions of dollars. I have sat in chambers with children - and listened - before making the ruling that would change their lives forever.
Whether far abroad or back home, I have been blessed with countless opportunities to be a problem-solver. Now, I look forward to serving the folks of East Texas as their trusted guide, counsel, and advocate."
- Clay