Criminal Defense Attorney

*Job Summary*

Please double check you have the right level of experience and qualifications by reading the full overview of this opportunity below.

An established criminal defense practice is opening its first Tennessee office, and we are hiring the attorney who will run it. This is not a seat in an existing office. You would be the first lawyer on the ground in either Nashville or Chattanooga — carrying the caseload, building the practice’s name in and around Nashville or Chattanooga and growing the office from there. One thing worth saying plainly: you will not be asked to originate your own business. A mature marketing and intake operation generates the cases. This is not a startup — the model is proven across multiple markets, and it is built on keeping attorneys in courtrooms instead of at networking events. You handle the cases. We keep the phone ringing.

*Responsibilities*

* Represent clients in criminal matters at every stage — from first appearance through trial
* Serve as the lead courtroom presence across the Atlanta metro
* Own the office’s outcomes: case results, client experience, and growth
* Help recruit, train, and supervise attorneys and staff as the office scales
* Conduct legal research and draft motions, pleadings, and related filings
* Communicate directly and consistently with clients, courts, and opposing counsel
* Willingness to train intake team on how Tennessee municipalities and higher court levels operate as well as train on the nuances of Tennessee law.

*Qualifications*

* Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
* Active and in good standing with the State Bar of Tennessee
* 3+ years of criminal defense experience, including meaningful time in front of juries
* Comfortable carrying a real caseload in a high-volume environment
* Wants to build a practice and a market, not just clear a docket

*Compensation*

* Performance-based compensation tied to earned fees — uncapped, with no origination requirement
* Expected range of $150,000–$200,000. This is not a salary and is not guaranteed. Compensation is a percentage of fees earned, so what you make depends on what you produce. There is no ceiling.
* Dedicated paralegal support

Job Type: Full-time

Location: Nashville or Chattanooga — 100% onsite

To apply: apply through Indeed.

This is a confidential search. xhmxlyz Firm details will be shared with candidates under consideration, and we understand strong applicants are usually already employed.

Pay: $150,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year

Experience:
* Criminal Defense : 3 years (Required)

License/Certification:
* GA Bar - valid and in good standing (Required)

Work Location: In person