Jo-Anna Nieves

Jo-Anna Nieves is an Oakland criminal defense attorney who founded her practice in 2012 to represent people accused of crimes in California. She handles matters involving DUI, assault, drug offenses, sexual assault allegations, domestic violence, theft, fraud, and other misdemeanor or felony charges. Her work includes criminal proceedings and related restraining order matters. She draws on experience in prosecution and civil litigation when advising defendants about evidence, negotiations, trial strategy, and the consequences of criminal accusations.

Jo-Anna earned a Bachelor of Science in Multinational Business and Finance from Florida State University and received her J.D. from Florida State University in May 2009. She started her legal career with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, where she gained experience in misdemeanor proceedings, domestic violence matters, preliminary hearings, and trial preparation. Her education and early courtroom experience form the basis of a defense practice focused on analyzing charges and preparing effective responses.

Jo-Anna later worked as a Los Angeles trial attorney handling creditor rights litigation, resolving more than 400 cases before trial and obtaining favorable results in the majority of the cases that proceeded to trial. After establishing her criminal defense practice, she began representing defendants in cases ranging from DUI and drug offenses to robbery, fraud, assault, and serious sex-crime allegations. She is admitted to practice in California and Florida and in several California federal district courts. Her earlier litigation work added experience negotiating disputed cases and arguing before judges.

Jo-Anna Nieves is a former president of the Alameda County Bar Association and has chaired several of its committees. She has taught trial advocacy at Stanford Law School and coached students through a youth mock trial program. She was selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for nine years and the Super Lawyers list in 2026. Her leadership, prosecutorial background, and trial experience inform her work defending people facing serious legal consequences.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, The Nieves Law Firm, APC
• Member, The State Bar of California
• Member, The Florida Bar
• Former President, Alameda County Bar Association
• Mock Trial Coach and Advisory Board Member, El Centro Legal de La Raza
• Member, Earl Warren Inns of Court

Licensed State

• California
• Florida

Education

• Florida State University
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Florida State University
  Bachelor of Science (BS) in Multinational Business and Finance

Awards & Badges