Criminal Defense Associate: Grow Your Trial Skills

Ben Hall Law; Michigan; On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary: $85,000-$105,000

Paid time off: 4 weeks annually

Sick leave: 1 week annually

401(k) with 4% match

Health insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Professional development

Job summary

Ben Hall Law in East Lansing seeks an Associate Attorney—Criminal Defense to handle matters from arraignment through trial across Michigan counties, under the team lead. Build a caseload sized to your experience, developing motion and trial skills case by case for greater independence.

This is a performance-driven role where compensation reflects results, not clock hours. The firm values diligent investigation, client advocacy, and principled representation in both criminal defense and potential

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Legal writing

Criminal law

Courtroom advocacy

Client communication

Case management

Tools

Case management systems

AI tools

Job description

Ben Hall Law in East Lansing seeks an Associate Attorney—Criminal Defense to handle matters from arraignment through trial across Michigan counties, under the team lead. Build a caseload sized to your experience, developing motion and trial skills case by case for greater independence.

This is a performance-driven role where compensation reflects results, not clock hours. The firm values diligent investigation, client advocacy, and principled representation in both criminal defense and potential