Criminal Defense Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

We don’t hire warm bodies; we only hire the attorneys who are “A players,” and who actually practice law with legal acumen and grit. DM Cantor Criminal Law Practice is Arizona’s leading trial-focused criminal law firm. We handle complex cases that demand creativity, tenacity, and profound legal knowledge. Our attorneys collaborate daily, combining expertise and insight to deliver the best outcomes for our clients. We prioritize results over ego, mentorship over hierarchy, and excellence over shortcuts. Our cases challenge us, our team supports one another relentlessly, and our wins are celebrated loudly. At DM Cantor Criminal Law Practice, your work will matter every single day.

We want to read about you and why you want to join our firm. To be considered for an interview, you MUST:

1. Submit an up-to-date resume

2. Submit a cover letter.

3. Plus, once you initially apply, you will receive an email to complete a career history form, and a Prescreen Snapshot to fully fill out and submit.

At DM Cantor, we offer:

• Competitive Compensation and Benefits: Minimum base salary of $200,000 per year, or more, depending on experience. Plus a generous bonus structure and an additional 20% of fees from personal referrals.

Benefits include:

• Time off: 30 paid days off annually. 10 holidays, 15 vacation days, and 5 personal/sick days.

• Loyalty vacation program: Earn one additional day off each year (for 5 years), then an additional five days at year 10, another 5 days at year 15, and so on.

• Medical Insurance: DM Cantor covers 50% of the individual insurance in your first year and 100% after and covers 100% of your family’s insurance at year 5.

• Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance: Employees enjoy dental, vision, and life Insurance paid fully by DM Cantor.

• 401(k): DM Cantor generously matches up to 3.5% of employees’ compensation based on their 401(k) contributions.

• Breakfast is catered for the firm every Monday, Family-style lunches are catered bi-weekly, and quarterly happy hours, firm outings, and other gatherings occur throughout the year. Families and children’s attendance are always encouraged at DM Cantor. We care about our attorneys and their families. In recent years, our staff has enjoyed various in-suite Suns basketball games, Cardinals tickets, dinners at exclusive members’ clubs, Michelin-Star outings, and banquets at The Biltmore. We understand that hard work deserves great rewards.

• Mentorship and CLEs: DM Cantor invests in conferences, mentorship, and strategy sessions to make you a better attorney, not a busier one. Our firm has an internal mentorship program to ensure progress and partnership flourish daily. Our attorneys meet monthly to strategize and discuss cases and recent developments in the law. DM Cantor also pays for attorneys' continued learning (CLE) requirements.

Our goal is to have every one of our attorneys become Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialists, per the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization!

Firm-sponsored conferences and year-round learning opportunities provide additional growth, mentorship, and collaboration. In recent years, our attorneys have attended multi-day conferences presented by the revered National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Las Vegas, as well as various local conferences in Arizona. In 2026, we attended the ABA White Collar Crime Institute CLE Conference in San Diego!

• A Team Worth Joining: DM Cantor was ranked #4 in Ranking Arizona’s Top Law Firm in Arizona (25 Lawyers or less) for all of Arizona! We are an AV-rated Criminal Law firm listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. With a Criminal Law team of 8 attorneys, 3 Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialists, and over 170 Jury Trial acquittals, we are Arizona’s preferred choice for criminal law representation. You’ll learn and collaborate with the best; no more waiting for the partner who rolls into the office at noon and hasn’t opened a rule book since ’98.

• Full Support Staff: Paralegals, administrative staff, and support systems are already primed at DM Cantor, so you can focus on lawyering, not chasing paperwork. Have a paralegal you prefer follow you to DM Cantor? Let us know and invite them to apply- we are always looking for new, deserving talent.

What We’re Looking For:

• Minimum 2 years of criminal law experience

• Licensed attorney with courtroom readiness

• Strong jury trial, oral advocacy, and legal writing skills

• High level of preparation, professionalism, and resilience

• No remote work – this is an in-office, litigation-first role

• Cover letter required with resume submission

What to Expect: We don’t just hire; we Topgrade. We use the Topgrading approach to ensure we hire only top performers. Step by step, we define what success looks like in the role, review your full career history and achievements, evaluate your skills and fit with our culture, check references with past colleagues, and make sure this role is the perfect match for your talents — all so you’re joining a team of other high achievers.

Creative intelligence and a strong work ethic are required. Only “A players” and those with a winning mindset need apply. If you’re tired of firms where “culture” means rarely being in the office to collaborate with colleagues, and you’re ready to do meaningful work with people who take the law and life seriously, then it’s time for us to meet.

Your future starts here. Learn more at and apply today!