Criminal Defense Trial Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Defending Rights. Restoring Lives.

Is This You?

This isn't just a hire for us. Our whole team, every one of us, is looking for our next teammate, the next member of our select community. Our own circle of trust.

You do the job because it matters to you, not because someone is checking your work. Beyond the legal skills, here is the kind of person who thrives at Hills at Law.

You live our core values every day, because they are already your own.

• Heart: You want to be here doing this job, with us. Your reasons are your own, but you want to do this work. You treat clients, colleagues, vendors, support staff, and everyone else with respect. You own your mistakes without getting defensive, and you learn from them. You give credit before taking it.

• Help: You know that helping, lifting, giving, and coaching are superpowers that grow exponentially on a focused team. You help when needed, you coach instead of criticize, and you share what you learn. When others share with you, you seek to understand. Helping, giving, teaching, coaching, and learning are part of who you are.

• Grit: You have a blue-collar work ethic. You know the best lawyer is the prepared lawyer, and there is no shortcut. You follow through on what you say you'll do and stay calm and focused under pressure. You hold yourself to "done and done right," not just done.

• Honest: You give candid, respectful feedback, tell the truth even when it's uncomfortable, and make the ethical choice when no one is watching.

Your work ethic goes beyond the minimum.
You take initiative instead of waiting to be told what to do. You prepare relentlessly for every hearing, motion, and trial, and you take pride in your work. For you, "good enough" is never the goal.

You're a genuine team player who gives and takes feedback well.
You see feedback as a GIFT, not a threat, and you're just as comfortable giving it as receiving it. When something's wrong, you raise it directly with the person involved instead of venting to others. You work closely with attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants, and you ask for help before problems become emergencies.

You put the client and the team first, not yourself.
You make decisions based on what's best for the client's outcome and the team's reputation and long-term success. Personal wins matter less than the team's wins.

You celebrate everyone's wins, because our wins are your wins, and you lift others up when they stumble.

If that sounds like you, keep reading. If it doesn't, this probably isn't the right fit, and that's okay.

What You'll Get

• A diverse but limited caseload. We want you to have time to work each case, so we limit your caseload.

• A community of criminal defense attorneys who love to talk about their cases, have deep experience in criminal defense, and will strategize with you one-on-one or in small groups.

• Formal strategy sessions each week where you can add to the agenda. You'll learn there is no stupid question, and there's often more than one right answer.

• Life on the circuit. Abraham Lincoln traveled the circuit, and so will you. Like "The Lincoln Lawyer," you'll handle cases in multiple courts across multiple counties.

• The support of staff trained in criminal defense work.

• The support of management and leadership with deep experience in criminal defense, committed to our team culture, core values, and first principles.

• Help finding a variety of experts and investigators, many with strong ties to our firm built over years of working together.

• The opportunity to work in alternative court systems if you want to. Our firm has long, strong ties with alternative courts in multiple counties.

• A team not burdened with other areas of law. We focus only on criminal defense and driver's license restoration.

Compensation & Benefits

$100,000 to $135,000 per year, based on experience, plus a discretionary annual performance bonus.

• Paid vacation

• Paid holidays

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) / Roth IRA

• Short-term disability

$100,000 - $135,000 per year based on experience

What You'll Do

• Independently manage your own caseload of misdemeanors to felonies, taking ownership of outcomes

• Prepare thoroughly for every hearing, motion, and trial, treating preparation as the foundation of confident advocacy

• Participate actively in weekly strategy sessions with a senior attorney, bringing forward ideas and openly incorporating feedback

• Collaborate daily with attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants, sharing knowledge and pitching in wherever the team needs it

• Maintain proactive, honest communication with clients, including delivering difficult news clearly and promptly

• Mentor and support less experienced team members as caseload and experience allow

• Stay current on CLE requirements and emerging best practices, including appropriate use of AI tools to strengthen case preparation

• Assist with Specialty Courts as needed

• Work primarily in Kent, Ottawa, Allegan, and Barry counties, and also in Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties, with occasional travel to other counties or out of state

Required

• Licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan

• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for regular travel between courts

Preferred

• 5+ years of criminal defense or trial experience

What makes someone successful here

• A demonstrated track record of following through on commitments and owning results, good or bad

• Strong oral advocacy and writing skills, with confidence in the courtroom

• Resourcefulness and composure when cases don't go as planned

Hills at Law, P.C. is a criminal defense team built on trust, teamwork, and relentless advocacy for our clients. We handle everything from misdemeanors to felonies across Southwest Michigan, and we're proud of the culture we've built along the way, where people show up for each other as consistently as they show up for their clients.

Ready to Join Us?

If you're driven by more than your own caseload, and you want to be part of a team that pushes each other to do great work, gives honest feedback, and never settles for "good enough," we want to hear from you. Apply today to join Hills at Law, P.C. and help us defend rights and restore lives.

Hills at Law, P.C. is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate.