Meet Kandi Gilder, a rising defense attorney in DFW and Houston with an astounding record of dismissals. From her early career as an assistant county prosecutor to her current practice and approach to client-attorney relationships, Mrs. Gilder has never settled for normal.
Q: You started your career as an assistant county prosecutor, and you’ve stated that your experience as a prosecutor inspired you to become a defense attorney. Tell us about that experience.
Gilder: “What I experienced in that office pissed me off. Inspiration has nothing to do with it. Justice has everything to do with it. The state wants convictions. Its aim is to convict and to take the path of least resistance. It’s dirty business, and from where I was standing, the play wasn’t fair. That being said, I needed that experience to perform at the level I do today.
The best defense attorneys are former prosecutors because we know the State’s playbook. It’s powerful, don’t get it twisted, but it’s predictable. I know what is going to come out of the prosecutor’s mouth before they take a breath. I win because I am driven and diligent, and they are average.”
Q: How do you explain legal issues in a way clients can actually understand?
Gilder: “Every client is different. Different cultures. Different backgrounds. So, the first step is to make people comfortable. From there, you speak plainly. You pay attention to body language and take it step by step. It’s not so much about explaining the letter of the law as it is about explaining where they stand and what we need to do to achieve the best possible outcome. I prefer to have my clients’ cases dismissed.”
Q: There are hundreds of television shows and movies about attorneys. Screaming at the judge. Dramatic, inspiring speeches. What’s the silliest or most inaccurate thing you’ve seen?
Gilder: “I’ve seen attorneys scream at judges, and judges scream at attorneys. Rhetoric has its place. To tell you the truth, nothing I’ve seen on television is as silly as what I’ve seen in court, and silly can win. Have I danced for a judge to keep my client out of jail, despite the fact that he had a warrant? Indeed. Did it work? Absolutely.
The biggest difference between Hollywood and a Texas courtroom is the camera work and lighting."
"What I experienced [as an assistant county prosecutor] pissed me off. Inspiration has nothing to do with it. Justice has everything to do with it."
Q: What do you think makes for a strong attorney-client relationship?
Gilder: “Trust. That’s it. If, for some reason, a client didn’t have complete faith in my ability to represent them, I would want them to feel free to shop around.”
Q: It’s safe to say, based on your record, that you're a high-performing attorney. What advice would you give to new attorneys before they commit to a career in criminal defense?
Gilder: “Overprepare, and show up knowing that everything you overprepared for could go out the window the second you step into the courtroom. Criminal defense is exciting. New attorneys have to make peace with the fact that excitement comes with stress, and they need to lose the participation-trophy mindset. You’re here to win, period.”
