Senior Criminal Defense Attorney

The Nieves Law Firm, APC•Oakland, CA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

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. 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

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