FULL-TIME Criminal Defense Attorney
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Full-Time Criminal Defense Attorney
McAdams Law PLLC | Bountiful, Utah
Salary: $135,000–$140,000 annually, depending on experience and demonstrated courtroom readiness
McAdams Law PLLC is seeking a full-time criminal defense attorney to join a growing Utah criminal defense practice.
This position is intended for an attorney who already has substantial criminal courtroom experience and is ready to assume meaningful responsibility for an active caseload from the outset. The firm is less concerned with a particular number of years in practice than with demonstrated ability, judgment, and courtroom readiness.
An attorney with approximately two years of intensive criminal practice may be an excellent fit. An attorney with somewhat less experience who has nevertheless handled a significant volume of criminal matters and can demonstrate genuine readiness to manage cases independently will also be considered.
The ideal candidate should be able to pick up a file, quickly understand the facts and discovery, communicate effectively with the client, negotiate directly with prosecutors, develop an appropriate strategy, and walk into court prepared to competently handle the matter.
Experience as a prosecutor, public defender, or criminal defense attorney is strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
The attorney will assume primary responsibility for an active caseload consisting primarily of misdemeanor cases and selected felony matters. Responsibilities will include:
Managing assigned criminal cases from intake through resolution;
Reviewing police reports, body-camera footage, recordings, photographs, forensic evidence, and other discovery;
Meeting and communicating directly with clients;
Identifying factual and legal issues and developing case strategy;
Negotiating directly with prosecutors;
Appearing at arraignments, pretrial and status conferences, preliminary hearings, motion hearings, plea hearings, sentencings, and other criminal proceedings;
Conducting preliminary and evidentiary hearings;
Examining and cross-examining witnesses;
Preparing cases for contested hearings and trial;
Trying misdemeanor cases and appropriate felony matters;
Preparing motions and other filings when necessary; and
Collaborating with firm counsel on more complex matters when appropriate.
The successful candidate should be capable of receiving a case assignment and taking meaningful ownership of it without requiring extensive day-to-day supervision.
Courtroom Readiness
Actual courtroom experience matters more to the firm than a particular number of years on a résumé.
A strong candidate should already be comfortable appearing before judges, advising criminal defendants, negotiating plea resolutions, evaluating discovery, identifying weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, conducting preliminary hearings, examining witnesses, and preparing matters for contested hearings and trial.
An attorney who has practiced for approximately two years but has already handled a large criminal caseload may be better suited for this position than an attorney with considerably more years in practice but limited courtroom responsibility.
The firm is particularly interested in candidates coming from prosecutor’s offices, public defender organizations, or criminal defense practices where they have carried a substantial caseload and appeared in court frequently.
Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Utah and in good standing. Strong judgment, communication skills, reliability, responsiveness, organization, and professionalism are essential.
Compensation and Work Structure
The anticipated salary is $135,000–$140,000 annually, depending on experience, demonstrated courtroom ability, and the level of responsibility the attorney is prepared to assume.
The firm does not currently offer employer-sponsored health insurance or a retirement plan, and the salary has been structured with that in mind.
This is a salaried position with no traditional billable-hour requirement.
The firm is primarily concerned with whether clients are being represented well, cases are being handled properly, deadlines are being met, court obligations are covered, and the attorney is fulfilling the responsibilities of the position.
Criminal practice naturally fluctuates. Some weeks will be heavier because of trials, hearings, deadlines, or the court calendar, while others will be lighter.
Collaborative Practice With Flexibility
McAdams Law is based in Bountiful, Utah, and the firm is looking for an attorney who wants to become an active and collaborative part of the practice.
This is not intended to be a fully remote position. Regular in-person interaction is important because the firm values the ability to discuss cases informally, work through strategy together, prepare for hearings collaboratively, and develop a strong professional working relationship.
At the same time, the firm does not operate on a rigid office-hours model. If an attorney has court in the morning, there is no expectation that the attorney first report to the office. Likewise, if a hearing or court calendar lasts late into the afternoon, the attorney is not expected to return to the office simply for the purpose of “clocking out.”
The objective is regular and meaningful participation in the office and the practice, not unnecessary face time.
Work that can appropriately be performed remotely may be handled remotely when circumstances permit. Because regular collaboration in the Bountiful office is an important part of the position, applicants should be comfortable commuting to the office on a regular basis, but there is no requirement that they live in Bountiful or the immediate surrounding area.
Courts and Geographic Coverage
The firm’s criminal practice is concentrated primarily in Davis, Salt Lake, Weber, and Utah Counties, with additional cases arising in courts throughout the State of Utah.
The associate should be comfortable traveling to courts as necessary to handle assigned matters.
No Business-Development Requirement
The associate will not be expected to generate clients, develop a book of business, or engage in marketing as a condition of employment.
McAdams Law provides the cases. The attorney’s responsibility is to take ownership of assigned matters and represent those clients exceptionally well.
Opportunity for Growth
This is not intended to be an appearance-coverage position or temporary overflow arrangement.
McAdams Law is growing and is looking for an attorney interested in becoming an important part of the practice over the long term. As the attorney demonstrates ability and develops within the firm, there will be opportunities to handle increasingly significant matters, participate in complex criminal litigation, and assume greater responsibility within the practice.
For an attorney currently working as a prosecutor or public defender, this position provides an opportunity to move into private criminal defense while continuing to spend substantial time in the courtroom, developing greater autonomy over cases, and working directly with experienced criminal defense counsel.
About McAdams Law
McAdams Law PLLC is a Utah criminal defense practice representing clients in misdemeanor and felony matters throughout the state.
The firm handles cases ranging from routine criminal matters to serious violent felonies, homicide cases, sex offenses, major drug cases, white-collar matters, and other complex criminal litigation.
The practice is led by a former felony prosecutor and experienced criminal defense attorney and emphasizes thorough preparation, sound judgment, strong client communication, and effective courtroom advocacy.
To Apply
Please submit a résumé and a brief introduction describing your criminal-law and courtroom experience.
Applicants are encouraged to describe the work they have actually performed rather than relying solely on years in practice. Particularly helpful information includes the approximate number and types of criminal cases personally handled, frequency of courtroom appearances, preliminary hearings and other evidentiary hearings conducted, trial experience, plea negotiations, and experience independently managing an active criminal caseload.
A writing sample is optional.
Applications may be submitted through the hosting platform or sent directly to:
Questions regarding the position may be directed to:
McAdams Law PLLC
801-449-1247
All inquiries will be treated confidentially.