About sara
Wife & Mother
Experienced Former Prosecutor
Experienced Former Prosecutor
- Sara has been married to her husband Oliver for thirteen years.
- Sara & Oliver have three daughters: Ellie (8), Audrey (6), and Esther (5).
- They live on the family ranch with dorper sheep, cattle, two dogs (named Linus & Twyla) and two cats (named Chocolate & Marshmallow).
- Sara works at the family business, The Neel Law Firm, as a trial attorney.
Experienced Former Prosecutor
Experienced Former Prosecutor
Experienced Former Prosecutor
- First Assistant, Gillespie County Attorney's Office, 2015-2018
- Felony First Chair, Nueces County District Attorney's Office, 2013-2015
- Assistant District Attorney, Bexar County District Attorney's Office, 2011-2013
- Intern, White Collar Crimes Division, Bexar County District Attorney's Office, 2009-2011
- Awarded, "Outstanding Service on Behalf
- First Assistant, Gillespie County Attorney's Office, 2015-2018
- Felony First Chair, Nueces County District Attorney's Office, 2013-2015
- Assistant District Attorney, Bexar County District Attorney's Office, 2011-2013
- Intern, White Collar Crimes Division, Bexar County District Attorney's Office, 2009-2011
- Awarded, "Outstanding Service on Behalf of Crime Victims," by Nueces County Coalition for Crime Victims, 2014
Community Volunteer
Experienced Former Prosecutor
Community Volunteer
- Heritage Trustee, Heritage Board of Trustees, 2023-present
- Room mom, Heritage Grammar School, 2021-present
- Coordinator, Discipleship Coordinator, Table Leader, & Member, Mothers of Preschoolers, Fredericksburg, 2017-2022
- AWANAS Cubbies Leader, First Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Spring 2022
- AYSO Assistant Coach, Fredericksburg, Fall of 2021
- Fredericksburg Bible Church Member, 2018 - present
EDUCATION
Doctorate of Jurisprudence, 2011
- St. Mary's School of Law
- Mock Trial Team, competed nationally
- Semi-Finalist, Jenkins & Gilchrist First Year Moot Court Competition
Master's Degree in English, 2008
- Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Concentration: Composition and Rhetoric
- Teacher's Assistant of First Year Composition
Bachelor's Degree in English, 2006
- Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Minor: Technical Writing
- Editor-in-Chief of Island Waves, Student Newspaper
Gillespie county values
Seek Justice. Integrity. Serve others.
As a daughter of a United States Navy Captain, I grew up with a clear view of public service: I was taught to put service to others before self. After a brief stint in teaching, I realized I missed my calling when a college student asked me to speak to campus administration about an issue troubling him. He believed the administration would fix the issue if I was the one doing the talking. Soon thereafter I applied and enrolled at St. Mary’s law school and the rest of my professional life has been devoted to advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves.
The first half of my career was spent in public service as a prosecutor starting at the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office where I cut my teeth trying multiple Driving While Intoxicated cases per month. Later, I moved to Corpus Christi, and was hired at the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office where I worked my way up to felony first chair. I tried felonies to juries including non-death capital murder, murder, aggravated assault family violence, felony DWI, felony assault family violence, evading arrest in a motor vehicle, felony theft, and possession of controlled substance.
After our first daughter was born my husband Oliver suggested we move to his hometown of Fredericksburg. He wanted to raise his family in a community that shared our values of honesty, hard work, and community. After living here for eight years I can see why.
Shortly after we arrived in Fredericksburg, I was hired at the Gillespie County Attorney’s Office where I was quickly immersed in the local criminal justice system and established relationships with law enforcement, court clerks, jail administration, and county officials. I worked hard at earning the respect of my colleagues in the legal community from judges, attorneys, and other personnel. While at the Gillespie County Attorney’s Office I prosecuted class C (traffic tickets) through class A (DWI 2nd, Assault Family Violence) criminal offenses. I gained knowledge of juvenile law as juvenile criminal offenses are prosecuted by the County Attorney’s Office in Gillespie County. After learning I was pregnant with our third child, I resigned from the Gillespie County Attorney’s Office to work with my husband, also an attorney, at The Neel Law Firm. During this time, I continued to refine my trial skills and tried cases to judge and jury and represented members of our community and several tourists as well. I have also continued to work in juvenile law but currently represent children accused instead of the State.
The move to The Neel Law Firm provided our family with more flexibility when our girls were all very little. When our youngest was born we had three children under the age of four. Now all three of our girls are school aged and attend Heritage.
Our girls are a large part of why I am seeking the office of Gillespie County Attorney. We live here. We want to see justice done in our community. We want our daughters to grow up in a county where victims of crime can rely on the criminal justice system.
Join me in seeking justice in Gillespie County.
