Associate Attorney

Criminal dockets don't follow the plan. Your 9:00 a.m. plea falls apart at 8:45, a witness doesn't show, the DA changes the offer in the hallway - and you adjust on your feet. If that energizes you rather than rattles you, keep reading.

Beasley Law Criminal Defense Attorneys is a Nashville-based law firm looking for an attorney to represent our existing client base - you'll walk into a full docket, not build one from scratch. You'll be in court most days, not behind a desk. Two things matter here more than anything on your resume: clients who feel genuinely cared for, and a lawyer who shows up on time, every time. Mornings matter - dockets start at 8:30 across multiple Middle Tennessee counties, and our lawyers are in the courtroom or the office, on time, every day.

If you have real courtroom instincts, connect easily with people in crisis, and can communicate in plain language, start your application today.

Responsibilities

Build trusted relationships with clients who are often frightened and facing serious consequences - we need a lawyer clients hug at the end of a case

Serve as clients' primary point of contact and respond promptly - a 4:30 PM Friday call gets the same care as a Monday morning one

Think on your feet in court: negotiate, pivot, and resolve cases when the day doesn't go as planned

Explain legal options, strategy, and likely outcomes in plain language - clients need to understand what's happening and feel heard

Counsel clients through difficult decisions with empathy and clarity, not just legal expertise

Manage a high-volume docket across multiple counties in Middle Tennessee, collaborating with our attorneys and support staff

Draft correspondence, pleadings, motions, and briefs; conduct legal research as cases require

Qualifications

3+ years of criminal law experience; admitted to practice in Tennessee

Former prosecutor or public defender experience strongly preferred — we have 2 former DAs and 1 former PD, and we especially value the client-management instincts of a PD for this role

High emotional intelligence: we hire for personality as much as skill, and we test for it

Resilience — the ups and downs of a criminal docket and high-anxiety clients without losing your cool

Reliability is non-negotiable: on time to court, on time to the office, responsive to clients

Tech-savvy and comfortable with modern case management software (we are a digital-first firm)

J.D. from an accredited law school

Compensation

$95,000 – $115,000 base salary DOE + performance bonuses

Beasley Law Criminal Defense Attorneys is a criminal and order-of-protection defense firm in Nashville built on one principle: every client deserves to be treated like the only client. Our team of former prosecutors and former public defenders has successfully defended more than 2,000 cases across Middle Tennessee — DUI, assault, drug offenses, orders of protection, and federal cases.

For our attorneys, that principle translates into how we run the firm: real courtroom work from day one, a full docket waiting instead of pressure to originate, support staff who handle the administrative weight, and a team that hires for character as much as credentials. We back that up with monthly health insurance reimbursement (QSEHRA), life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and mileage reimbursement for multi-county travel — and we invest in the people who grow with us.