RC Pate is a San Antonio criminal defense attorney and Senior Trial Attorney at Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys. A former Bexar County prosecutor with more than two decades of courtroom experience, he represents individuals facing DWI charges, felony offenses, assault charges, domestic violence allegations, drug possession offenses, weapons charges, and other serious criminal matters throughout Bexar County and South Texas.
Mr. Pate began his legal career at the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, where he rose to become first-chair prosecutor in County Court at Law No. 1. His experience prosecuting criminal cases provided firsthand insight into how law enforcement investigations are conducted, how prosecutors evaluate evidence, and how criminal cases are built and litigated.
After leaving the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Pate founded and operated the Law Office of RC Pate, a criminal defense practice dedicated exclusively to defending individuals accused of criminal offenses. For more than 15 years, he represented clients in misdemeanor and felony cases throughout Texas, building a reputation for meticulous preparation, trial advocacy, and client-focused representation.
During his tenure at Michael & Associates, where he leads the San Antonio criminal defense team, Mr. Pate has handled more than 400 criminal cases, representing clients accused of offenses ranging from DWI and drug crimes to weapons charges, probation violations, and serious felony offenses. More than 140 of those matters have involved DWI allegations, making intoxication-related offenses one of the primary focuses of his criminal defense practice.
Mr. Pate has a longstanding interest in forensic science and impaired-driving defense. In 2015, he was designated a Lawyer-Scientist by the American Chemical Society, recognizing advanced training in the scientific principles frequently involved in DWI and drug-related prosecutions. He has completed the NHTSA/IACP Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Practitioner Course twice and regularly studies the scientific and procedural issues that arise in intoxication-related cases. This extensive criminal defense practice has given him deep familiarity with the legal, scientific, and strategic issues that frequently arise in DWI and other criminal prosecutions.
A highly respected member of the criminal-defense community, Mr. Pate has served on the editorial board of the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association magazine and is a Founding Member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association. He is also a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Texas DWI Lawyers Association.
Throughout his career, Mr. Pate has tried criminal cases across Texas and represented clients in courts from Midland to Laredo and throughout South Texas. His extensive trial experience, prosecutorial background, and scientific training allow him to provide strategic, trial-ready representation for clients facing life-changing criminal allegations.
The firstborn son of a Texas District Court Judge, Mr. Pate was destined to end up working in law. But before pursuing a legal career, Mr. Pate held a variety of jobs ranging from youth ministry and retail work to private security and even performing as a rock guitarist, experiences that helped shape the practical, client-focused approach he brings to criminal defense today.
A native Texan, Mr. Pate brings a lifetime of courtroom advocacy, legal knowledge, and practical experience to every case. He is committed to providing honest guidance, direct communication, and aggressive defense for individuals whose freedom, reputation, and future are at stake.
