7+ Years Criminal Defense Experience Required | Felony Experience Required The Nieves Law Firm is seeking a full-time Senior Criminal Defense Attorney with significant felony experience, strong litigation skills, and the professional maturity to lead, collaborate, and serve clients at a high level. We are not looking for someone who is merely “good in court.” We are looking for a skilled attorney who understands that excellent legal representation requires preparation, communication, judgment, emotional intelligence, and respect for the people around them. At The Nieves Law Firm, we take the criminal out of criminal defense. Our work is serious, our standards are high, and clients deserve attorneys who are prepared, responsive, strategic, and steady under pressure. We are a fast-growing, team-oriented criminal defense firm built on trust, strong advocacy, transparent communication, and a commitment to helping clients protect their futures. The right candidate is an experienced criminal defense attorney who can handle serious cases, speak to clients with clarity and confidence, work well with support staff and junior attorneys, and represent the firm with professionalism in every interaction. Who We Are Looking For We are seeking a senior attorney who is technically strong and a strong team member. You should be someone who: • Prepares thoroughly before client calls, court appearances, strategy meetings, and internal case discussions • Communicates with clients clearly, professionally, and with appropriate reassurance • Can explain complicated legal issues without confusing, alarming, or overwhelming clients • Treats legal assistants, paralegals, intake staff, junior attorneys, and leadership with respect • Accepts feedback without defensiveness and gives feedback without condescension • Takes ownership of their cases instead of blaming others, avoiding responsibility, or creating chaos • Understands that client service is part of excellent legal representation • Knows how to respond with judgment and finesse when a client is emotional, frustrated, confused, or afraid • Is organized, responsive, and capable of managing deadlines without constant hand-holding • Brings calm, competence, and professionalism into high-pressure situations This is not the right position for someone who is brilliant on paper but unreliable, dismissive, disorganized, combative with staff, poor with clients, or unwilling to operate within a team-based law firm. We value attorneys who are sharp, prepared, respectful, accountable, and emotionally intelligent. Talent matters. Character matters more. Position Overview The Senior Attorney will represent clients in criminal defense matters throughout Alameda County and the surrounding Bay Area. This role requires meaningful criminal defense experience, including felony litigation, motion practice, preliminary hearings, and jury trials. The candidate’s experience must be specifically in criminal defense. Experience in other practice areas will not count toward the minimum experience requirement. Admission to the California Bar and the ability to attend court throughout the Bay Area are required. Applicants who possess second-language skills are strongly encouraged to apply. Compensation and Benefits Compensation for this position is $140,000 - $180,000 annually , depending on experience. Benefits may include: • Health, dental, and vision plan contributions • 401(k) • Mileage reimbursement • Use of the company car when applicable • Bar dues • Malpractice insurance • Parking • Student loan assistance • Rainmaking bonuses Responsibilities: • Represent clients in criminal defense matters with professionalism, preparation, and strategic advocacy • Appear in court for arraignments, pretrial conferences, preliminary hearings, motions, trials, and other proceedings • Develop case strategies that support the client’s goals and protect the client’s future • Draft, review, and argue motions, including felony and post-conviction motions when appropriate • Prepare thoroughly for court, client calls, strategy sessions, and internal case reviews • Communicate with clients in a clear, respectful, and confidence-building manner • Help clients understand the legal process without giving false promises or unnecessary alarm • Maintain timely, accurate, and professional communication with clients and team members • Work collaboratively with attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, intake, sales, and leadership • Mentor junior attorneys through coaching, feedback, and modeling strong professional judgment • Participate in case management meetings and contribute meaningful strategic insight • Ensure filings, deadlines, court appearances, and client obligations are handled timely and correctly • Maintain professionalism in dress, punctuality, tone, written communication, and courtroom presence • Participate in goal-setting, performance reviews, training, and firm initiatives • Stay current on developments in criminal law, procedure, local court practices, and ethics Qualifications: • J.D. from an accredited law school • Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California • 7+ years of criminal defense experience required • Significant felony experience required • Experience drafting and arguing motions • Experience handling preliminary hearings • Trial experience, including felony jury trial experience • Strong courtroom presence and litigation judgment • Ability to travel throughout Alameda County and the surrounding Bay Area • Familiarity with online case management systems • Strong written and verbal communication skills • High emotional intelligence and strong client service skills • Ability to work professionally with team members at all levels • Commitment to zealous advocacy, preparation, and ethical representation Preferred Qualifications • 10+ felony jury trials and preliminary hearings • Experience with post-conviction motions • Bilingual or multilingual ability • Experience mentoring junior attorneys • Experience working in a structured, team-based law firm environment • Familiarity with MyCase or similar case management platforms What Success Looks Like in This Role A successful Senior Attorney at The Nieves Law Firm does more than show up in court. They are prepared, thoughtful, responsive, and steady. They know their cases. They communicate with clients before problems escalate. They treat the team with respect. They understand that legal skill without professionalism creates risk, not value. Success in this role means clients feel informed, supported, and confident in the firm. Junior attorneys feel guided, not belittled. Support staff feel respected, not blamed. Leadership can trust that cases are being handled with ownership, judgment, and care. Compensation: $140,000 - $180,000 annually

• Represent clients in criminal defense matters with professionalism, preparation, and strategic advocacy • Appear in court for arraignments, pretrial conferences, preliminary hearings, motions, trials, and other proceedings • Develop case strategies that support the client’s goals and protect the client’s future • Draft, review, and argue motions, including felony and post-conviction motions when appropriate • Prepare thoroughly for court, client calls, strategy sessions, and internal case reviews • Communicate with clients in a clear, respectful, and confidence-building manner • Help clients understand the legal process without giving false promises or unnecessary alarm • Maintain timely, accurate, and professional communication with clients and team members • Work collaboratively with attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, intake, sales, and leadership • Mentor junior attorneys through coaching, feedback, and modeling strong professional judgment • Participate in case management meetings and contribute meaningful strategic insight • Ensure filings, deadlines, court appearances, and client obligations are handled timely and correctly • Maintain professionalism in dress, punctuality, tone, written communication, and courtroom presence • Participate in goal-setting, performance reviews, training, and firm initiatives • Stay current on developments in criminal law, procedure, local court practices, and ethics