Criminal Defense Attorney

At Peters Law Firm, our mission is to help people pursue happiness by protecting their freedom. We are a fast-growing criminal defense law firm based in Richmond, VA, dedicated to fighting for our clients in traffic and criminal matters. We pride ourselves on providing high-quality legal representation while maintaining a fast-paced, supportive, and collaborative team culture. This position is ideal for an ambitious attorney seeking courtroom experience, client interaction, and an opportunity to grow in the criminal defense field.

• About the Role

We need an attorney who can contribute to developing the strategy of a case and who knows where to find the code, cases, and rules of procedure to back up that case strategy. You also need to know how to find your way around the courtroom and how to project confidence and competence when dealing with clients and people on behalf of our clients. You also need to be able to show compassion and empathy to clients, and to work with them to confront their fears and achieve their goals.

The ideal candidate will have experience handling criminal traffic matters. Namely, reckless driving, DUI, eluding, hit-and-run, and traffic-related charges. However, we do handle other types of criminal law cases and are interested in hiring someone who can take the lead in helping us with those cases and with expanding into other areas of practice as well. You will be expected to take responsibility for a client's case - conduct client consultations and recommend strategies; oversee communication with prosecutors and witnesses; ensure accurate and timely filings; attend hearings; and delegate work to paralegals and legal assistants and monitor their work.

• Take ownership of a client's case - be able to take a case and run with it from start to finish, including client consultations, recommending strategies, and making court appearances.
• Make court appearances daily, and frequently in multiple jurisdictions.
• Feel comfortable appearing in state courts - we primarily handle cases in General District Court, but also have cases in Circuit Court and Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court (where the charges are criminal / traffic related).
• Delegate work to paralegals and legal assistants and monitor their work.
• Direct and oversee discovery, pleadings, and motions; pretrial hearings, motion hearings, and criminal trials.
• Our firm is heavy on mitigation tasks for clients. Being able to identify what tasks will help an individual's case and why also is a top priority.
• Collegiality is a top priority for our firm's values. Claws coming out should be reserved for cases where trial is appropriate, and during the trial itself. They should not come out during the pre-litigation phase, where it behooves us to help our clients by trying to identify the best way to resolve their case. Essentially, if you get along with your colleagues, please apply. If you don't get along well with others, then please don't.
• What We're Looking For
• Required :
• If you want to help clients solve their legal problems, and not just send them through assembly line justice, you think like us.
• If you think clients are good people who are just trying to do better and need a little guidance, then you will like the way we think.
• You will get experience right away by appearing in court daily, and potentially in numerous jurisdictions daily.
• You need to be comfortable driving to courthouses which sometimes are within a 1-1.5-hour radius of the Greater Richmond Area.
• You need to be able to balance having numerous cases and clients in a single court appearance.
• Skills and experience are important and valued, but your personality, character, intelligence, and integrity are also extremely important considerations.
• We are growing, and you will be called upon to wear many hats. We need someone who does not think that the need to scan your own documents or print your own case files is "beneath you."
• We have an office in Henrico County. You are welcome to work from there, but we offer the freedom for you to work wherever you want. In-person meetings with your manager and coworkers are rare (except during the initial training period). Most client consultations happen via telephone. Most in-person meetings with clients happen at the courthouse. Basically, you are welcome to work at our office but it's not mandatory, and we definitely support working remotely.
• Our firm values health and wellness. Our office is right down the street from a gym. We allow you to go to the dentist or chiropractor or to have flexibility with taking care of your family responsibilities. Whatever you need for your personal health and wellness. We don't want people working at a desk all the time (unless they want to) and neglecting themselves or their families. Work where you want to work, take care of yourself, and just get your work done. That's all we ask.
• Preferred :
• 1-3 years of experience in criminal defense or traffic law
• Existing relationships with local prosecutors and courts
• New graduates may be considered with strong academic performance and a professor's recommendation (Must have already passed the bar)
• Compensation & Benefits
• Salary is commensurate with skills and experience, and is negotiable
• Firm-paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance, CLE reimbursement, and bar dues
• Opportunity for rapid courtroom experience and career growth
• Why Join Us?
• Immediate exposure to court appearances and trial work
• High-volume caseload ensures fast skill development
• Professional growth opportunities in a supportive, entrepreneurial environment
• How to Apply :

Submit your

• resume and cover letter
• through Indeed. In your cover letter, please share why you are interested in criminal defense and how you would contribute to our firm's fast-paced, client-focused environment.

Job Type : Full-time

Pay : $80,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits :

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

License / Certification :

• license to practice law in the state of Virginia (Required)

Work Location : Hybrid remote in Glen Allen, Virginia 23060