Senior Criminal Trial Attorney

Puget Law Group LLP; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Puget Law Group LLP in Tacoma, WA seeks a Senior Criminal Trial Attorney to own and try cases from intake to verdict. You will lead complex felony matters with autonomy, handle jury trials across municipal, district, and superior courts, and negotiate favorable outcomes for clients.

The role demands a substantial jury-trial record, deep knowledge of criminal law, and the ability to manage a full caseload independently while traveling to Tacoma, Seattle, and Kent courts as needed.

Qualifications

• Five (5)+ years managing felony matters in Washington State's Municipal, District, and Superior Courts.
• Substantial jury-trial record showing cases to verdict.
• Strong command of criminal law, procedure, and evidence with excellent written and oral advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Own your caseload from intake through verdict or resolution.
• Try cases in Washington's Municipal, District, and Superior Courts across the state.
• Draft and argue pretrial, evidentiary, suppression, and dismissal motions.
• Build strategy independently without waiting for approval.
• Negotiate directly with prosecutors for favorable results.
• Counsel clients with candor, clarity, and respect.
• Raise the bar by mentoring associates and strengthening the team.
• Practice with integrity and uphold high ethical standards.

Skills

Felony trial experience

Jury trials

Criminal law

Courtroom advocacy

Caseload management

Travel willingness

Job description

Join the Largest and Premier-Rated Criminal Defense Firm in the Pacific Northwest!

SENIOR CRIMINAL TRIAL ATTORNEY

You are not looking for a playbook to follow. You are ready to create one.

We are the largest and premier-rated criminal defense firm in the Pacific Northwest, and we are looking for a trial lawyer who can quickly assess a case, exercise sound judgment, and take initiative to move forward with minimal guidance. We encourage team members to take ownership, lead where they can, and help drive results. We empower attorneys to share ideas, influence change, and improve processes to better serve our clients. We provide the caseload, courtroom opportunities, and autonomy to excel, along with a collaborative team that supports you every step of the way. You will have the autonomy to own your cases from strategy through resolution, supported by a team that works together to achieve exceptional results.

WHO WE WANT TO OUR TEAM

The Attorney we want is a proactive, solutions-oriented attorney who takes ownership of their work, exercises sound judgment, and contributes to a collaborative, high-performing team. You thrive in an environment that offers autonomy, values sound judgment, and trusts you to tackle complex challenges independently – but you know that the best outcomes come from people who lift each other up. You bring strong courtroom instincts, a commitment to excellence, and the judgment to know when to press forward, when to pivot, and how to achieve the best result for your clients.

• Hungry. You are driven by results, thrive in high-stakes environments, and bring the determination, judgment, and advocacy needed to achieve exceptional outcomes for your clients.
• Independent. You understand the objective, develop the strategy, and find the path to achieve it.
• Team-FIRST. You will lead your own cases, while also collaborating with your Team. You exchange ideas and step in for one another because our greatest successes are achieved together.
• Sharp under pressure. You thrive under pressure, think several steps ahead, and navigate complex challenges with confidence and sound judgment.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

This is a hands-on trial role. From day one, you'll carry real cases and own them start to finish:

• Own your caseload. Manage felony and serious criminal matters from intake through verdict or resolution — these are your files to run.
• Try cases. Take matters to jury in Washington's Municipal, District, and Superior Courts across the state.
• Win the arguments. Draft and argue pretrial, evidentiary, suppression, and dismissal motions that shape the outcome.
• Build strategy independently. Investigate, analyze, and chart the path forward without waiting for a green light.
• Negotiate. Deal directly with prosecutors to secure the best possible result for every client.
• Counsel clients. Guide people through the hardest moments of their lives with candor, clarity, and respect.
• Raise the bar. Mentor associates and strengthen the whole team.
• Practice with integrity. Uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and client confidentiality.

WHAT'S REQUIRED

This is a senior role, and the fundamentals are non-negotiable:

• Five (5)+ years managing felony matters in Washington State's Municipal, District, and Superior Courts.
• A substantial jury-trial record — a real history of taking cases all the way to verdict.
• Command of criminal law, procedure, and evidence, with excellent written and oral advocacy skills.
• The ability to run a full caseload independently with minimal oversight.
• In-person availability and willingness to work and travel among our Tacoma, Seattle, and Kent courts and offices as cases require.

WHAT SETS YOU APART

Here's what we actually care about beyond the resume: we're drawn to people who've lived interesting lives. Tell us about the unusual jobs, the sport you compete in, the thing you built, the challenge you chased down because it was hard. We look for an entrepreneurial, hustling spirit and the kind of grit that shows up when someone has done difficult things and kept going.

• Preferred: a background as a former prosecutor or defense attorney who has navigated complex, high-stakes jury trials.
• Diverse hobbies, real interests, a life outside the office.
• Unique or demanding jobs that shaped how you think and work.
• Athletes and people who take on hard, challenging pursuits.
• An entrepreneurial streak — you make things happen.

OUR MISSION & VALUES

We empower clients facing their darkest hours by delivering unwavering advocacy and pursuing justice. We strive to exceed expectations, secure the best possible outcomes, and restore hope.

Five core values guide every case and every interaction — Respect, Inspiration, Growth, Hustle, and Trust. They're not wall art; they're how we work.

And we live them as one team: we share strategy, back each other in and out of the courtroom, and push everyone around us to be better. That team mentality is exactly why our attorneys win — and why many of them have gone on to the bench, a testament to the caliber of the people who come through our doors.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Puget Law Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

FINAL NOTES

This job description conveys essential information about the scope and nature of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, duties, responsibilities, and working conditions associated with the role. Management retains the discretion to modify this job description as business needs evolve, and other duties may be assigned.