Senior Associate Attorney

About Ben Hall Law

Ben Hall Law is a small, but rapidly growing law firm in East Lansing, handling criminal defense and personal injury matters. We also represent a state agency in child abuse & neglect matters in multiple counties.

Ben Hall Law was shaped by Ben's years of public service before entering private practice. His experience in the Marine Corps, law enforcement, and prosecution gave him a firsthand view of how institutions operate—and how much power they can bring to bear on an individual.

That experience now informs both sides of the firm's work. In criminal defense, it helps us understand how police investigate cases and how prosecutors assess evidence. In personal injury matters, it reinforces the importance of careful investigation, documentation, and holding powerful organizations accountable when their actions harm someone.

The firm's philosophy is straightforward: know the facts, know the system, and prepare thoroughly. We do not assume that an accusation is correct, that a report tells the whole story, or that an insurance company's first position is fair. We investigate, ask questions, and build the case from the evidence outward.

Our core values: Fun, Accountability, Service, Teamwork, Integrity, and Excellence (FASTIE). They're not on a wall—they're how we decide who gets hired, how work gets judged, and what we tolerate. If that resonates, keep reading.

Our mission: To provide determined, high-quality representation to people facing powerful opponents—whether that's the government in a criminal case or an insurer after a serious injury. We protect our clients' rights, give them clear guidance, and pursue outcomes that help them regain control of what comes next.

Our vision: To build a Michigan law firm known for principled, effective advocacy in both criminal defense and personal injury. We want clients to know that when the stakes are high, they have a team that understands the system, takes their situation seriously, and is prepared to fight for them.

Position: Senior Associate Attorney—Criminal Defense

Position overview
The Senior Associate Attorney will handle criminal matters from arraignment through trial, sentencing, and appeal across multiple Michigan counties, carrying an independent caseload alongside the practice group's team lead. This is an established role: you won't need case-by-case direction, you'll sharpen your trial and motion practice on real files, and you'll help set the standard for less experienced attorneys coming up behind you.

This is not a passive role. You'd be putting real trial experience to work inside a firm centered on client outcomes, not billing a clock. Compensation and advancement here track performance and results, not hours logged or busy work.

The firm does not accept two case types: matters where the client is accused of killing or attempting to kill a police officer, and criminal sexual conduct cases involving a child victim. Outside those two exclusions, the caseload is wide-ranging.

This is not a role for someone who thinks being an attorney means set hours. We believe in work-home integration, not a fixed schedule. Some weeks the job only takes four or five working days. Others demand six or seven. Some days you're done by early afternoon. Others start with an emergency call before sunrise. If you can't accept both sides of that, you will not be successful here.

This job is not for you if…
We believe in being direct. This is a strong opportunity for the right person, and the wrong fit for most people. Do not apply if:

✕ You prefer to work alone. This is a team environment. You'll work closely with our team lead, case manager, and support staff on every file. Lone wolves will not thrive here.
✕ You're uncomfortable with accountability. There is one standard way of doing things here—with KPIs, with standards—and every attorney, junior or senior, is held to it.
✕ You've made peace with "good enough." We outwork the prosecutor. Every time. If a plea that's merely adequate is your ceiling, this isn't the place.
✕ You have a "not my job" mentality. If you're keeping score of what's technically your responsibility, this isn't the right environment.

Key responsibilities

• Represent clients in criminal matters, from arraignment through trial, sentencing, and appeal, with meaningful independence on case strategy.
• Build and manage an active caseload of moderate-to-high complexity matters, with efficiency and scope discipline.
• Draft and argue motions, including suppression and dispositive motions, largely on your own.
  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.
  Provide informal guidance to less experienced associates on motion practice and file standards.
  Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

• Active Michigan law license in good standing.
• 5-10 years of criminal law litigation experience, with meaningful jury trial experience.
• Solid working knowledge of Michigan criminal procedure, the Michigan Rules of Evidence, and sentencing guidelines scoring.
• Proven ability to manage an independent caseload without day-to-day supervision.
• Strong motion-writing skills, including suppression and dispositive motions.
• 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.

Preferred qualifications

• Prior police officer experience, or experience defending law enforcement officers.
• Experience with personal injury cases.
• Existing relationships in our core counties.
• Active member in local, state, or national criminal defense associations.
• Some experience mentoring or informally guiding less experienced attorneys.

What we're looking for

• The right candidate brings more than years on the calendar. We're looking for someone who:
  Treats defense work as a calling, not a job—someone who wants to stand between a client and the full weight of the government.
• Wants to build a long-term career here, not just log time until something better comes along.
  Puts the client's authority over their own case first, while giving clear, unhedged advice on what the evidence actually shows.
• Is coachable, but also brings independent judgment to the table.
• Brings genuine warmth to a system that rarely offers it.

Compensation & benefits
Salary: $120,000-$140,000, depending on experience and qualifications (DOE/DOQ), plus bonus
Paid time off: 4 weeks annually
Sick leave: 1 week annually
Retirement: 401(k) with 4% match
Health insurance: Medical, dental, and vision
Disability insurance: Short-term and long-term
Life insurance: Firm-provided
Professional development: Support for CDAM, MIDC, and other criminal defense conferences and training

How to apply
You must follow these instructions.

• Submit your resume and cover letter.
• Address your cover letter to Mr. Vincent Gambini. In your cover letter, tell Mr. Gambini why this role appeals to you and how you see yourself fitting into our culture. Include your salary expectations within the posted range and what the firm can expect from you at that salary.
• Cover letters or candidates that don't follow these instructions will not be considered.