Senior Criminal Defense Attorney

About the role

Lance Kennedy Law defends people charged with crimes across Texas, from offices in Austin, Dallas‑Fort Worth and San Antonio. The firm is built to put a trial attorney in front of the client and in front of the jury. We are hiring a senior criminal defense attorney in San Antonio to own a docket of criminal cases, in state and federal court, from first setting through dismissal, plea or verdict. The firm was founded by Lance Kennedy, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Texas prosecutor, and Major in the U.S. Army JAG Corps. Every senior trial attorney here is a former prosecutor, and most have capital murder experience. The firm hires from the top 5% of applicants. Lance Kennedy was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2025 and 2026.

Responsibilities

• Try cases in state and federal court.
• Own your cases, your clients, and your results from first setting through disposition.
• Use support staff (two team members per attorney) and AI agents to handle paperwork and follow‑up so your time goes to court and in‑person client work.
• Become a Forensic Lawyer‑Scientist through Axion Analytical Labs (firm pays full tuition for courses leading to the American Chemical Society designation).
• Learn the firm’s systems from day one via written training.
• Grow with the firm as it expands beyond Texas, with paths into leadership and mentoring.

Requirements

Required:

• 7 or more years of criminal defense experience.
• Licensed in Texas and in good standing.
• Someone who wants to own the case, the client, and the result.

Preferred (reviewed first):

• Federal criminal trial experience.
• Board certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
• Current or former prosecutor who has tried a significant number of cases.

Benefits

• Medical and dental insurance.
• Unlimited time off.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Annual raises.
• Bar dues and CLEs paid.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• Forensic Lawyer‑Scientist designation through Axion Analytical Labs (firm pays full tuition).
• $5,000 referral bonus when an attorney you refer is hired.
• 30% of the fee the firm receives on any client you refer.
• Hybrid work schedule (office and home).
• Written training on the firm’s systems from your first day.

Pay

$160,000 to $180,000 per year, plus a share of a year‑end bonus pool.

Schedule

Hybrid: work from the office and home.