Criminal Defense Associate Attorney

The Wright Legal Group, LLC; Columbus (GA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Paralegal support

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

The Wright Legal Group, LLC in Columbus, Georgia is seeking an experienced Criminal Defense Associate Attorney to own a felony caseload with full staff support. You will manage cases from arraignment through trial, with autonomy over strategy and courtroom decisions.

You will work with seasoned paralegals and staff, enjoying a pipeline of cases from day one and clear opportunities for growth and partnership as the practice expands.

Qualifications

• Active Georgia Bar license in good standing.
• 1+ years criminal law experience; felony experience preferred.
• Strong courtroom confidence and trial readiness.
• Ability to manage caseloads independently.
• Excellent client communication and service.
• Experience with ADAs or public defenders encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Manage felony and misdemeanor defense caseload from arraignment through trial.
• Appear in Superior, State, and Municipal courts for hearings and trials.
• Review discovery and develop defense strategy.
• Negotiate with prosecutors and advise clients on options.
• Draft and argue motions, including suppressions and bond motions.
• Meet with clients and coordinate with paralegals.
• Collaborate with leadership to grow the criminal practice.

Skills

Criminal law

Courtroom experience

Client communication

Time management

Independent caseload management

Education

Georgia Bar admission

Job description

Criminal Defense Associate Attorney – Own Your Caseload with Full Staff Support

We have the felony cases. We need the attorney.

The Wright Legal Group is a growing, results-driven litigation firm in Columbus, Georgia. Demand for criminal defense has outpaced our capacity, and we are currently turning away a significant number of felony cases. We are looking for an attorney with criminal law experience who can step in quickly, take ownership of a felony caseload, and grow a criminal defense practice inside our firm.

Why This Role Is Different:

• Cases are waiting. You will not have to build a book of business from scratch. Our intake and sales teams bring in a steady flow of criminal cases ready for an attorney.

• You run your own docket. You will manage your own case list from engagement through resolution, with real autonomy over strategy and courtroom decisions.

• You are not doing it alone. Experienced paralegals and operations staff handle scheduling, client communication, discovery organization, and file management so you can focus on practicing law.

• Room to grow. As the criminal practice grows, so do your role, your compensation, and your leadership opportunities.

What You Will Do:

• Manage a caseload of felony and misdemeanor criminal defense matters from arraignment through plea, motions, and trial.

• Appear in Superior, State, and Municipal courts for arraignments, bond hearings, motions hearings, calendar calls, and trials.

• Review discovery, evaluate evidence, and develop defense strategy.

• Negotiate with prosecutors and advise clients on plea offers and case options.

• Draft and argue motions, including motions to suppress, bond motions, and pretrial motions.

• Meet with clients and keep them informed, working alongside our paralegals and operations team.

• Collaborate with firm leadership on case strategy and help shape the growth of the criminal practice.

What We Are Looking For:

• Active Georgia Bar license in good standing (required).

• 1+ years of criminal law experience (prosecution, public defender, or private criminal defense). Felony experience strongly preferred.

• Courtroom confidence: comfortable handling hearings and trying cases.

• Ability to independently manage a caseload, deadlines, and court calendar.

• Strong client communication skills and a commitment to client service.

• Former ADAs, public defenders, and criminal defense associates ready for more ownership are encouraged to apply.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive base salary plus profit-sharing structure.

• A ready pipeline of criminal cases from day one.

• Dedicated paralegal and staff support.

• Strong opportunities for career growth and partnership potential.

• Collaborative, supportive, growth-focused team.

If you are ready to stop waiting for cases and start running your own criminal defense docket, we want to hear from you.

Visit us at www.thewrightlegalgroup.com to learn more about our firm!