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In honor of Veterans Day, the Austin Bar wishes to thank all of our veteran members. Following are interviews with several members who served our nation. They share how their service lends itself to their legal careers.
Wayne Cavalier
How has your military experience influenced your approach to practicing law or working with clients?
The military taught me problem-solving and working with people to resolve the problem and that is what I do now. I’m given a problem; I research solutions; I decide which solutions will best resolve the problem. I work with the person who has the problem to pick and implement the selected solution.
What motivated you to pursue a legal career after your time in the service?
After I was elected mayor of my town, I interacted with several top-notch lawyers and observing them led me to choose my law career.
Are there particular areas of law that resonate with you more deeply because of your military background?
My military experience taught me that a truly resolved problem included a prepared “end-game strategy,” and that led me to estate planning.
How do you think the legal system serves (or fails to serve) veterans, and what changes would you like to see?
Those veterans who connect with the legal system are very well-served. Many veterans are not served by the legal system because they do not connect with it; either they can’t connect or they don’t know how to connect.
What leadership or discipline skills from the military have been most valuable in your legal career?
My military experience taught me to set a goal; determine the steps required to reach the goal; action the steps; and persevere. NEVER QUIT.
Sam Denton
How has your military experience influenced your approach to practicing law or working with clients?
I think the Army has a lot of best practices they teach that help you operate successfully in an office environment and from which I’ve benefited.
Listen to Eisenhower. Use the Eisenhower matrix – if you have folks to whom you can give tasks, push those tasks to them whenever you can, and retain only those tasks that are urgent and important.
You Can’t Expect If You Don’t Inspect. Tasking things down is great…but, where necessary, check over the finished product and, when possible, provide feedback, so that expectations are better understood in the future. Also, even when you assign tasks, since people almost always have competing priorities, your task may not be prioritized unless you check on it. You can’t expect the task to always be completed (or completed to your standard) unless you check and show that it’s a priority.
The Backwards Timeline. When you receive a mission (or a case), the first thing to do is to plot out the endpoint and then work backwards, plugging in the necessary milestones.
1/3 and 2/3 Rule. When you receive a mission, a case, or a project, you should do the initial analysis and planning and then make sure that you give those working under your direction at least 2/3’s of the time to do the actual work. This also applies elsewhere in the office – try to confine yourself to the first third of the timeline to do the planning and make the decisions before you assign tasks to others. This is especially important for higher level managers, as the larger the boat, the longer it can take to turn.
Make the Plan, Start Movement, Refine the Plan. In order to follow the 1/3 and 2/3 rule, you may need to make the plan and allow others to begin carrying it out while you revise and perfect it. Don’t wait until things are flawless, as you’ll cheat those who are helping you of the valuable time they need to complete the project.
Task, Condition, Standard. In the Army, they train you on “task, condition, standard.” They have broken most items down into processes, and the goal is to teach you the process and ensure that, given a task and a specific environment, you can complete that task successfully and to standard. I think that, as a result, I’m far more focused on commemorating and following repeatable processes than many attorneys that I’ve met. Having said that, one of my favorite things to do is crack a legal manual or CLE article and see a clearly outlined process that can take you to the successful resolution of a matter – so perhaps I’m giving the Army and myself too much credit.
What motivated you to pursue a legal career after your time in the service?
It was the glory and the fame…definitely. In truth, after observing corruption elsewhere in the world, I had some idea that I wanted to arm myself with the tools necessary to fight corruption, should it arise here.
Are there particular areas of law that resonate with you more deeply because of your military background?
At its best, I see law as a service, one that you can perform for others and with which you can greatly and positively impact their lives. “Counselor” is my favorite title for an attorney, as I think that one of the most rewarding parts of our job is to carefully listen to someone’s problem and then help them solve it.
How do you think the legal system serves (or fails to serve) veterans, and what changes would you like to see?
There are so many services and benefits for veterans…but there can be more. The percentage of veterans who are homeless is disproportionately large when compared to the percentage of the overall population that veterans represent. Additionally, sadly, under the current administration, we’re seeing reductions that have negative impacts on veterans. This encompasses everything from the erosion of a federal workforce that gave preference to veterans; to the loss of critical caregivers and research dollars; to cuts to Medicaid and SNAP upon which, again, a disproportionately large number of veterans rely.
What leadership or discipline skills from the military have been most valuable in your legal career?
The most important thing that the military taught me was that leadership is different than management and, while both are very important, leadership can be what the military would refer to as a “force multiplier.” Intentional and excellent leadership can inspire others, with disparate goals and personalities, to row in the same direction and with more force.
Claude Ducloux
How has your military experience influenced your approach to practicing law or working with clients?
My Army experience helped me realize how precision in your demeanor and your communications with others can make or break your career. Like many others, I made my mistakes, learned from them, and tried not to repeat them. I wanted everyone to know that I was honest, dependable, and more than anything else, I did my share of every job big, small, or dirty and humbling. Doing little things well earns you respect and friendship. Some of my Army friends from 50 years ago still text each other almost daily, even though we haven’t seen each other in decades.
What motivated you to pursue a legal career after your time in the service?
I always wanted to be a lawyer, and my grandfather and great-grandfather were lawyers in Switzerland. I always thought that, somehow, they might be guiding my life toward the law. I still feel that way today.
Are there particular areas of law that resonate with you more deeply because of your military background?
I helped prepare court-martial paperwork for the 1st Cavalry Division as one of the first “paralegals” – a new word in the legal lexicon. Before I ended my time in service, I was writing scripts for the newer lawyers on how to try court-martial cases. I knew that’s what I would do, too: try cases in court. Moreover, I learned so much from the Army’s Manual for Courts-Martial, which showed lawyers the elements of each crime, i.e. what you have to prove to win. I think about that elemental approach to win cases and always ask myself: “What do I need to do to win this case?” Just like in the Army.
How do you think the legal system serves (or fails to serve) veterans, and what changes would you like to see?
Unfortunately, we only give lip-service and “thanks” to the mighty contributions our veterans face. That’s because too few of our politicians (men AND women and too few of our presidents) have ever worn a uniform. Veterans are a valuable resource for mentoring and guidance, and we should give them care, honor, and opportunities to succeed.
What leadership or discipline skills from the military have been most valuable in your legal career?
My most valuable skill was realizing and gaining confidence that I can overcome sleeplessness, fatigue, harassment, and pressure and still succeed. I will handle anything you throw at me. In other words, the most important result of my service was self-confidence and resilience. I still feel that way.
Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle
Daniella DeSeta Lyttle was elected by Travis County voters to the 261st District Court in 2022, becoming both the first Latina and the first female Army veteran to serve on this court. She presides over a wide range of civil and family-law cases, including business, commercial, administrative, consumer, real estate, divorce, child-custody, and Child Protective Services matters.
Before her election to the bench, Judge DeSeta Lyttle was a full-time trial lawyer in Austin. She litigated cases not only in the district courts of Travis County but also across central Texas and in federal courts throughout the state. As the founder and managing partner of Lyttle Law Firm, PLLC, she specialized in Immigration, Family, Business, and Entertainment Law. Her extensive experience as both a litigator and a judge reflects a lifelong commitment to justice, service, and advocacy for her community. Prior to her legal career, Judge DeSeta Lyttle served in the U.S Army as an enlisted combat medic in an infantry unit.
How has your military experience influenced your approach to practicing law or working with clients?
I joined the Army at 17, straight out of high school, and served in an infantry unit with the military occupational specialty (MOS) of Combat Medic. That experience shaped the foundation of who I am today. The determination, perseverance, attention to detail, and work ethic I developed in the military carried directly into my work as a lawyer, where preparation, discipline, and tenacity were essential to advocating effectively for my clients. Those same qualities now guide me on the bench as a district judge. Perseverance allows me to carefully work through the most complex legal issues, while attention to detail ensures fairness and accuracy in every decision I make. Most importantly, the Army instilled in me a deep sense of duty and service — a commitment that I strive to honor each day by upholding the law and ensuring access to justice for every litigant who comes before my court.
What motivated you to pursue a legal career after your time in the service?
My decision to pursue a legal career was deeply personal. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, I witnessed firsthand how Latinos, immigrants, and people of color were too often taken advantage of because of language barriers or a lack of access to legal resources. After serving in the Army, I carried with me the discipline, resolve, and sense of duty the military instilled in me. Those experiences strengthened my commitment to address the inequities I had seen throughout my life. As a lawyer, I was able to advocate directly for clients who needed a voice and ensure they had fair access to justice. Now, as a district judge, that same motivation informs every decision I make on the bench. I am committed to maintaining fairness and accessibility in the courtroom, ensuring that every litigant — regardless of background or circumstance — is treated with respect and has an equal opportunity to be heard.
Are there particular areas of law that resonate with you more deeply because of your military background?
While the skills I gained in the Army — discipline, attention to detail, and perseverance — are valuable in all areas of law, I have found that my ability to remain calm under stress and pressure is particularly resonant in family law cases. Many of the individuals who come before the court are experiencing profound emotional pain, and navigating those situations requires patience, empathy, and a steady presence. My military background trained me to stay composed in high-pressure environments, assess situations clearly, and make decisions with clarity and fairness — qualities that are essential when guiding families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. In this way, my service continues to inform how I approach the courtroom and support those seeking justice.
How do you think the legal system serves (or fails to serve) veterans, and what changes would you like to see?
The legal system has many resources available to veterans, but it often falls short in addressing the unique challenges they face, particularly when it comes to mental health. Issues such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety are prevalent among veterans, yet the system is not always equipped to respond to these needs in a timely or effective manner. I believe more specialized support, including access to mental health professionals trained in veterans’ issues and greater coordination between the courts and veteran services, would make a meaningful difference. By prioritizing mental health and providing tailored resources, we can ensure that veterans receive not only justice, but also the support they need to rebuild and thrive in civilian life.
What leadership or discipline skills from the military have been most valuable in your legal career?
The military instilled in me a foundation of leadership and discipline that has been invaluable throughout my legal career. From the Army, I learned the importance of accountability, decisiveness, and leading by example — skills that helped me advocate effectively as a lawyer and now guide proceedings fairly as a district judge. Discipline taught me to approach complex legal matters methodically, maintain focus under pressure, and persevere through challenges, while leadership reinforced the responsibility to serve others and make thoughtful, principled decisions. Together, these qualities continue to shape how I approach my work, ensuring that I act with integrity, fairness, and a commitment to those who rely on the legal system.
Kyle Ryman
How has your military experience influenced your approach to practicing law or working with clients?
It has deeply influenced how I approach litigation. War and litigation are just different tools for resolving what are fundamentally disputes between people. That’s why I always focus on the people involved. So in both the Army and now in the law, I don’t pick fights to pick fights. I pick fights that I think will lead the people involved closer to resolution of the matter — so my clients can get relief.
Just as important is how it shaped me as a trial lawyer. America’s sons and daughters are an incredibly diverse bunch. And you’ve got to figure out how to relate to them if you want to get them all rowing in the same direction in the Army. The same is true for the jury. They’re diverse. They come from different backgrounds and hold different priorities. You’ve got to figure out how to relate to them at trial; what’s going to persuade them to find in favor for your client. And that’s not always what us lawyers think is enough or even the most persuasive.
What motivated you to pursue a legal career after your time in the service?
Continued service. There’s a lot of momentum for junior officers getting out to go get their MBA and go work on Wall Street. But I wanted to continue serving my community. And there’s no better way to do that as a veteran than becoming a lawyer. You can do good and get paid in the process. You’ve got access to tools nobody else does — the courts! And when you practice the kind of law I do, you get to see how your work changes lives. You get to right wrongs; to correct injustice. You get to make your clients’ lives better. There’s nothing more professionally rewarding than that.
Are there particular areas of law that resonate with you more deeply because of your military background?
In a way, yes. The Army is built on procedure. You’ve got regulations and policies for everything. Nothing gets done until you navigate the often Byzantine bureaucracy of the Army. So when I got into the law, I wasn’t shocked at how long things took or all the procedural hoops you’ve got to jump through as a lawyer. If anything, I felt at home. But the other thing the Army teaches you is that every rule, every procedure has an exception. And that’s spot on in the law. All that’s to say the law is full of interesting questions and substance. But what resonates most deeply with me is how analogous the law is to the Army procedurally.
How do you think the legal system serves (or fails to serve) veterans, and what changes would you like to see?
I think we don’t do enough to encourage veterans to enter the law. Post World War II, we had a wave of veterans go to law school or otherwise enter the law. We haven’t had that since. Veterans in the law are a rare breed. We need to change that. We need more veterans in the law — as judges, as lawyers, as paralegals, and as staff. We do that and we’ll be filling the law with people who have a demonstrated commitment to public service. Access to justice—for veterans and civilians alike—will take care of itself.
What leadership or discipline skills from the military have been most valuable in your legal career?
I commanded three companies in the Army. I got to learn firsthand what it takes to build an effective team of diverse professionals. There was no better training than that to start my own law firm. I was able to hit the ground running from day one, setting clear objectives and then building effective systems to accomplish them. I couldn’t have done it so easily without my time in the Army to lean on.
Mark Santos
How has your military experience influenced your approach to practicing law or working with clients?
“Mission First, People Always,” is a phrase that virtually anyone with a military background has heard before. It simply refers to the fact that while mission accomplishment is always the primary goal, no mission can be accomplished without the people who carry it out. Put differently, for military leaders, meeting the needs of people is a responsibility that is of equal importance to meeting the requirements of any mission. The elements of “mission” and “people” aren’t opposed to one another, rather they work hand in hand — good leaders find balance between the two and success is the result. I think that lawyers constantly face the same need for balance, with cases or transactions and people.
Most of us lawyers are competitive people. We want to win. We work hard to win. We expect to win. Our shelves aren’t filled with opinions from or tokens of memory on the cases we lost or the transactions that never closed. No, we memorialize our successful cases or “missions” on our websites, in social media posts, on our bookcases, and in our files. But, in each of those successes (or failures), I think, regardless of how small a lawyer’s practice group or team might be, there were likely other people involved. Clients who needed our help and expertise. Co-counsel with gifts that were complementary to our own. Paralegals and other legal professionals who made us look good and kept us from making mistakes. Family and friends who were there after another long day in front of the computer. Judges, juries, or deal partners who heard our arguments, believed in our theme or us, and decided to rule in our client’s favor or sign the contract.
I hope that one day when I “hang up my shingle,” I’ll be able to say that I did my best to always try to find that balance between mission and people.
What motivated you to pursue a legal career after your time in the service?
Initially commissioned as an army intelligence officer at Texas A&M University, the Army allowed me to proceed directly to law school under its Educational Delay program; after which, I was selected for the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. I was then blessed to spend the next four years of my life on active duty as a member of the Army’s Trial Defense Service “Defending Those Who Defend America.” I had the privilege of representing soldiers at courts-martial, in administrative separation proceedings, and in other adverse actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
In other words, there was never really any doubt that I was pursuing a legal career, regardless of my time in service. But I will say that a motivation for my entry into private practice was a desire to work alongside and against the best and brightest non-military lawyers and advocates in the legal profession — to test my own skill with and against different peers and adversaries who the profession considers “super” or “best” lawyers. Luckily, I’ve been blessed to do that also.
Are there particular areas of law that resonate with you more deeply because of your military background?
When I was transitioning from military to private practice, a mentor of mine keenly observed that the position I was interviewing for at an Austin law firm’s energy and regulatory section was a great fit for me. She noted that I’d simply be moving from one highly regulated environment (the military) to another (energy companies and utilities). Different games with different playbooks but very similar basic tenets and aspects from a legal practice perspective. It turns out she was right. Something must have “resonated” with me because I’ve now been an energy and regulatory lawyer for over 20 years.
How do you think the legal system serves (or fails to serve) veterans, and what changes would you like to see?
Wow. Probably not enough pages in this edition of the Austin Lawyer to provide a complete answer. I’ll say this: I think that veterans can present challenges that other clients do not — especially when the veteran isn’t advocating strongly for themselves. I think that the values of duty, selfless service, and personal courage can be so strongly ingrained in the DNA of a veteran that we are likely to miss just how harmed that veteran might be in a particular case under a particular set of circumstances. A veteran with those core values is often the last to raise a hand for help and may be the first to say that help isn’t needed. It’s true that they need help, but they may not know how to ask for or receive it.
I’m not sure that any kind of change is necessary but certainly an awareness might make us better servers of those who’ve served. Look out for when that veteran client or witness gives you a consistent “yes, ma’am” or “yes, sir” and few follow-up questions; or when that client doesn’t seem as “injured” by their situation or position as other similarly situated clients; or when a seemingly “successful” and “happy” veteran suddenly takes a downward turn not anticipated or detected by those around them. You may have a smart, professional, and resilient person in front of you. You may also have someone who has put others before themselves for so long that they can’t see their own needs in a normal light.
What leadership or discipline skills from the military have been most valuable in your legal career?
See my comments preceding on “Mission First, People Always.” Beyond that, my family and friends sometimes hate it, but my eyes open around four a.m. most mornings, regardless of whether I want to sleep longer. After waking up, I usually try to keep myself from my computer for an hour or two as I get caffeinated, digest what’s going on in the world, and workout. After that, I’m usually pretty clear-eyed and focused when I look at my calendar and open my email inbox to assess the next emergency or problem to be solved for the day. If I’m lucky, I’ll have the initial plan for dealing with the emergency or problem to be solved worked out when I get to the office around eight a.m.
I don’t think that I “do more before nine a.m. than most people do all day” (which is a line used in an Army advertising campaign in the 1980s), but early starts to the day have served me well throughout my legal career.
Kevin Terrazas
How has your military experience influenced your approach to practicing law or working with clients?
The Army taught me many things, including the importance of both leading and being part of a team. I learned that teams are most effective when they work collaboratively, which has translated to a team-first mentality at the firm. Also, when you are serving, it is much harder to put yourself above the mission because others are relying on you. This instilled a strong sense of client-service — to put the client’s interests above our own.
What motivated you to pursue a legal career after your time in the service?
I actually determined that I was going to leave the military while I was serving in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I did not know what I was going to do next. But one of my closest friends during the deployment was a JAG officer, and he recommended that I apply to law school. Since I had always been interested in how we govern ourselves, I decided to give it a try.
Are there particular areas of law that resonate with you more deeply because of your military background?
I wouldn’t say that there’s one particular area of law that resonates more deeply because of my military experience, but it does drive me to be passionate about representing others and doing everything I can to get the best outcome for my clients.
How do you think the legal system serves (or fails to serve) veterans, and what changes would you like to see?
The legal system has made strides in recognizing the unique needs of veterans, particularly as it comes to mental health and the unique challenges that veterans may face because of their experiences. For example, I was just in Comal County recently and the county court has a Veterans Treatment Court, which diverts veterans from the traditional criminal justice system to focus on their unique needs. At the same time, there are still gaps — particularly in navigating benefits, accessing affordable legal support, and addressing issues like housing that often overlap with legal problems. I’d like to see more specialized courts and outreach programs that connect veterans with attorneys who understand both the law and military culture.
What leadership or discipline skills from the military have been most valuable in your legal career?
My military service taught me that leadership isn’t about giving orders — it’s about accountability, setting an example, and taking responsibility for outcomes. That mindset has been invaluable in earning trust with clients and colleagues. In addition, my service experience taught me to remain calm and decisive in high-pressure situations. Being shot at and having rockets fired at you definitely puts practicing law and its high-stress environment into perspective.