Overview
Criminal Defense Associate Jobs in Norwalk, CA at Flores Medrano Law Group, P.C.
Real Trial Reps. Real Mentorship. Real Impact.
Welcome Home!!
If you’re a criminal defense attorney who wants to stand up for people the system tends to steamroll — people who look like your family, who speak your language, who need someone in their corner who gets it — we should talk.
That’s the whole reason Flores Medrano Law Group exists. We’ve spent 20+ years defending our communities across LA, Orange County, and beyond. Our docket stays busy — that’s the nature of the work we do and the clients who need us — but we’ve built a firm where you’re not left figuring it out on your own. Real trial work, real mentorship, and colleagues who show up for each other.
Who You Are (The Real Version)
You’re the attorney who remembers your clients’ kids’ names. You’ve stood in front of a jury and felt your heart pound — and you loved it anyway. You’re fluent in Spanish not because a job posting required it, but because it’s who you are, and you’ve watched firsthand how much it matters when a client can finally explain their side of the story in their own words to someone who actually understands them.
You’re organized enough to run a full caseload without someone hovering over your shoulder, but you’re also smart enough to know that “I’ve got this” and “I need backup” aren’t mutually exclusive. You want to get better — sharper cross-examinations, faster instincts, real trial reps — every week you show up.
You’re probably the one in your current office who ends up mentoring the new associates anyway, even though nobody asked you to.
What You’ll Actually Do
- Own your cases, start to finish — from that first jailhouse call to the verdict, with paralegal support to help keep the wheels turning between court appearances.
- Be in the courtroom, regularly — arraignments, prelims, motions, trials. You’ll lead or co-lead based on where you’re at, and you’ll keep growing from there.
- Build strategy like a real advocate — draft your own motions, shape your own defense theory, and talk it through directly with firm leadership.
- Be the bridge for Spanish-speaking clients — interviews, plea explanations, witness prep — in the language that actually lets your clients tell you the truth.
- Get mentored by someone who’s actually been in the trenches — an experienced trial attorney who wants you in second chair building real skills, not on the sidelines watching from the gallery.
Who You Are NOT
- You’re not the person who needs six people to sign off before you make a decision.
- You’re not chasing a title just to put it on a business card — you want the actual work.
- You’re not here for office politics, gossip, or ego contests over who “wins” a case.
- You’re not the “that’s not my job” type — this is a close-knit firm, and everyone pitches in.
- You’re not afraid of a full docket — you know how to move cases efficiently and still fight hard on the ones that need it.
What You’ll Need to Bring
We’re not going to bury this in a wall of HR-speak. Here’s what actually matters:
- Your California Bar card, active and in good standing.
- 1–5 years in the trenches of criminal defense — you know your way around a courthouse hallway.
- Real Spanish fluency — spoken and written, good enough to interview a client, walk them through a plea, and prep a witness without a translator in the room.
- Actual trial experience — you’ve stood up and taken a case to verdict, first or second chair. We’re not looking for someone who’s only read about trials in a treatise.
- The judgment to run your own show, and the humility to call for backup — the sweet spot between “I’ve got this” and “I know when I don’t.”
- Strong writing and even stronger courtroom presence — because your motions and your voice are both going to matter here.
If that list sounds like a mirror instead of a checklist, keep reading.
Why You’ll Love Us
- Leadership that knows your name and your cases. You’re not just another attorney on the roster.
- Real mentorship, not lip service. You’ll be building trial skills next to someone who wants to see you succeed.
- Staff who actually support you. Paralegal help means your time can go where it matters most — trial prep and strategy.
- Autonomy with a safety net. Run your caseload your way — and know someone’s one call away when you need them.
- Work that means something. Every case is a chance to give someone the defense they deserve, in a language and culture they trust.
Compensation: $100,000–$150,000/year, depending on experience — because we value what you bring to the table, and we want you to stay.
Don’t Overthink It
If you’ve got your California Bar card, 1–5 years of criminal defense under your belt, real trial experience (first or second chair, doesn’t matter), and Spanish fluent enough to actually connect with clients — we’d genuinely love to hear from you.
No cover letter gymnastics required. Just send us your resume and a couple sentences about a case that mattered to you. We’ll take it from there.
Come try cases with us. We’ve got the staff, the mentorship, and the courtroom time waiting.
Pay: $100,000.00 – $150,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
Title: Criminal Defense Associate
Company: Flores Medrano Law Group, P.C.
Location: Norwalk, CA
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