Criminal Defense Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Experienced Attorney — 3–5+ Years Preferred

The Botnick Law Firm is looking for an experienced criminal defense attorney to join our team.

This position is best suited for an attorney with courtroom experience who is comfortable managing cases, working directly with clients, and helping move matters from intake through resolution. Prior criminal defense experience in private practice is preferred, but we would also welcome candidates with prosecution, public defender, or other meaningful criminal courtroom experience.

Our firm handles criminal, traffic, OVI/DUI, juvenile, and related defense matters throughout Northeast Ohio. We are looking for someone who enjoys litigation, communicates well, and wants to be part of a collaborative and growing law firm.

Our Core Values

• Our firm is built around four core values:
• Responsibility — We own our work and follow through.
• Dignity — We treat clients, coworkers, courts, and opposing counsel with respect.
• Quality — We prepare carefully and take pride in our work.
• Teamwork — We support each other and communicate openly.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience.

Benefits include:

• PTO
• Sick time
• Floating holidays
• Health insurance
• HSA
• 401(k)
• Eligibility for firm performance bonuses

How To Apply

Please submit your resume and a short cover letter telling us about your criminal law or courtroom experience and why you are interested in joining our team.

$85,000+ commensurate with experience

What You'll Do

In this role, you will handle criminal defense matters with support from the firm’s attorneys and staff. Responsibilities may include:

• Managing criminal, traffic, OVI/DUI, and related defense cases
• Appearing in municipal, juvenile, federal, and common pleas courts
• Handling pretrials, motion hearings, sentencing hearings, plea negotiations, and trials
• Reviewing discovery, police reports, videos, criminal histories, and court records
• Identifying legal issues, factual defenses, mitigation themes, and negotiation strategies
• Drafting and arguing motions
• Communicating with clients about case strategy, risks, options, and next steps
• Working with the team to keep cases organized and moving forward
• Mentoring or supporting newer attorneys when appropriate
• Conducting consultations with potential clients

What We’re Looking For

The right candidate will bring:

• Ohio law license in good standing
• 3–5+ years of criminal defense, courtroom, prosecution, or public defender experience preferred
• Strong courtroom presence and professional judgment
• Ability to manage cases independently while working well with a team
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Attention to detail and good organization
• Comfort speaking with clients during stressful situations
• Familiarity with criminal procedure, plea negotiations, hearings, and trial preparation
• Interest in helping the firm continue to improve and grow

Experience with OVI/DUI, traffic, municipal court, felony defense, or Northeast Ohio courts is a plus.

The Botnick Law Firm is a boutique criminal defense practice serving clients in state and federal courts across Northeast Ohio. But more than that, we are counselors, problem solvers, and protectors who stand between clients and a system often built for convictions—not compassion or justice.

We take our work seriously and fight hard for our clients—while keeping a genuinely enjoyable, laid-back atmosphere internally. Criminal defense is fast-paced : deadlines are real, details matter, and our clients are relying on us during a high-stress time in their lives.