A Texas native, Debora Parks Pickens has served the Austin legal community since 1989 when she was admitted to the State Bar Association. After obtaining her BA from Duke University in 1980, and her JD from the University of Houston Law Center in 1989, Ms. Pickens began her legal career as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas. Within three years, she entered private practice as an Associate for an Austin-based insurance defense firm. She launched her solo practice in 1995, focusing on legal issues relating to Personal Injury, Family Law, Employment Discrimination, Wills & Estate Planning, and Foreclosure proceedings. In 2000, Ms. Pickens joined of counsel with the law firm of Joel Bennett, P.C. where her practice concentration focuses on Wills & Estate Planning, Administrative Law, and Family Law cases.

A firm believer in giving back to the community, Ms. Pickens has served the Central Texas area through her membership on the LEAP Board of Directors and the PTSA Executive Board for LBJ High School. She has also served on the David Chapel and Mt. Sinai Legal Ministries committees, and continues to support the efforts of the Austin-based African American Men and Boys Conference. Ms. Pickens is affiliated with the Family Law Section of the Travis County Bar Association, the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association, the Austin Black Lawyers Association, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Williamson County African-American Chamber of Commerce, and the Collaborative Law Group of Austin.