Leff-Pinon, Crystal

Crystal Leff-Piñon is the Director of Family Protection Representation at TIDC. Crystal’s work focuses on the court-appointed legal representation system for children and indigent parents involved in cases brought by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Crystal joined TIDC in 2021 as the first Senior Policy Analyst dedicated to Family Protection Representation. Prior to joining TIDC, Crystal worked with Texas Legal Services Center as the Families and Survivors Practice Area Manager and Family Helpline Managing Attorney and focused on providing free civil legal services to families involved in DFPS cases and survivors of violent crimes. While at TLSC, Crystal helped launch the Family Helpline – a service that is the first of its kind aimed at providing families free legal information about DFPS cases given directly by child welfare attorneys. Prior to working at TLSC, Crystal served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office representing DFPS in child welfare cases. Crystal has also served as an Assistant Counsel with the Texas Education Agency and Assistant County Attorney with the Travis County Attorney’s Office. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Crystal is a graduate of The University of Texas School of Law and New Mexico State University.