Associate Criminal Defense Attorney

Job Description

About Ben Hall Law

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Ben Hall Law is a small, but rapidly growing law firm in East Lansing, handling criminal defense and personal injury matters. We also represent a state agency in child abuse & neglect matters in multiple counties.

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Ben Hall Law was shaped by Ben's years of public service before entering private practice. His experience in the Marine Corps, law enforcement, and prosecution gave him a firsthand view of how institutions operate—and how much power they can bring to bear on an individual.

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That experience now informs both sides of the firm's work. In criminal defense, it helps us understand how police investigate cases and how prosecutors assess evidence. In personal injury matters, it reinforces the importance of careful investigation, documentation, and holding powerful organizations accountable when their actions harm someone.

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The firm's philosophy is straightforward: know the facts, know the system, and prepare thoroughly. We do not assume that an accusation is correct, that a report tells the whole story, or that an insurance company's first position is fair. We investigate, ask questions, and build the case from the evidence outward.

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Our core values: Fun, Accountability, Service, Teamwork, Integrity, and Excellence (FASTIE). They're not on a wall—they're how we decide who gets hired, how work gets judged, and what we tolerate. If that resonates, keep reading.

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Our mission: To provide determined, high-quality representation to people facing powerful opponents—whether that's the government in a criminal case or an insurer after a serious injury. We protect our clients' rights, give them clear guidance, and pursue outcomes that help them regain control of what comes next.

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Our vision: To build a Michigan law firm known for principled, effective advocacy in both criminal defense and personal injury. We want clients to know that when the stakes are high, they have a team that understands the system, takes their situation seriously, and is prepared to fight for them.

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Position: Associate Attorney—Criminal Defense

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Position overview

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The Associate Attorney will handle criminal matters from arraignment through trial, sentencing, and appeal across multiple Michigan counties, working under the direction of the practice group's team lead. This is a developing role: you'll carry a caseload sized to your experience, build motion and trial skills case by case, and earn more independence as you prove yourself.

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This is not a passive role. You'd be building your own trial skills inside a firm centered on client outcomes, not billing a clock. Compensation and advancement here track performance and results, not hours logged or busy work.

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The firm does not accept two case types: matters where the client is accused of killing or attempting to kill a police officer, and criminal sexual conduct cases involving a child victim. Outside those two exclusions, the caseload is wide-ranging.

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Key responsibilities

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• Represent clients in criminal matters, from arraignment through trial, sentencing, and appeal, under the direction of the team lead.
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• Build and manage a caseload sized to your experience, with efficiency and scope discipline.
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• Draft and argue motions, including suppression and dispositive motions, with guidance from senior attorneys.
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• Communicate with clients in plain language your grandmother would understand and be proud of.
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• Take part in a rotation for after-hours, weekend, and holiday emergency calls—arrests, arraignments, bond hearings.
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• Engage constructively with judges, prosecutors, and public defender offices across the practice area.
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• Take direction well, and take initiative once you've earned the trust to do so.
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• Other duties as assigned.
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Required qualifications

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• Active Michigan law license in good standing, or eligible to sit for the bar exam before your start date.
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• 0-3 years of criminal law experience—prosecutor's office, public defender, judicial clerkship, or private criminal defense practice all count.
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• Working knowledge of Michigan criminal procedure, the Michigan Rules of Evidence, and sentencing guidelines scoring, with a genuine willingness to deepen it fast.
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• Strong legal writing skills, including the ability to draft a clean motion.
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• Comfortable with technology and willing to adapt to new tools, including case management systems and AI.
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• Ability to reliably commute to court appearances across assigned counties.
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• Genuine alignment with the firm's values: Fun, Accountability, Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence.
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Preferred qualifications

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• Judicial clerkship, prosecutor's office, or public defender experience.
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• Courtroom experience, even from law school—mock trial, trial advocacy competitions, or externships.
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• Existing familiarity with our core counties and courts.
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• Genuine interest in the firm's police officer defense niche.
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• Interest in cross-training on personal injury matters as the practice grows.
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• Prior personal injury experience
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What we're looking for

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The right candidate brings more than a law degree. We're looking for someone who:

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• Treats defense work as a calling, not a job—someone who wants to stand between a client and the full weight of the government.
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• Wants to build a career here, not log time until something better comes along.
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• Is coachable. Takes feedback without getting defensive, and holds themselves to the standard before anyone has to ask.
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• Brings genuine warmth to a system that rarely offers it.
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Compensation & benefits

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Compensation ties to performance and outcomes, not hours logged or busy work.

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• Salary: $85,000-$105,000, depending on experience and qualifications (DOE/DOQ), plus bonus
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• Paid time off: 4 weeks annually
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• Sick leave: 1 week annually
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• Retirement: 401(k) with 4% match
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• Health insurance: Medical, dental, and vision
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• Disability insurance: Short-term and long-term
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• Life insurance: Firm-provided
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• Professional development: Support for CDAM, MIDC, and other criminal defense conferences and training
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How to apply

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You must follow these instructions.

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• Submit your resume and cover letter.
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• Address your cover letter to Mr. Vincent Gambini. In your cover letter, tell Mr. Gambini why this role appeals to you and how you see yourself fitting into our culture. Include your salary expectations within the posted range and what the firm can expect from you at that salary.
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• Cover letters or candidates that don't follow these instructions will not be considered.
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