Practice areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI, White Collar Crimes
Licensed in California since: 2011
Education: Florida State University College of Law
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2016 - 2024 
Free Consultation The Nieves Law Firm
160 Franklin StSuite 210
Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: 510-726-1388 Email: Jo-Anna Nieves Visit website
Details 
Jo-Anna Nieves is a confident and assertive criminal defense attorney who truly cares about her clients and their goals. Jo-Anna has been well recognized in the legal community for her outstanding work, including being named to a Super Lawyers Rising Star for the past 7 years. Her firm has also been recognized as the Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Oakland from 2021-2023 by Expertise, which recognizes the top service professionals in different industries across the United States. Jo-Anna currently serves as the Vice President of the Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA), and is admitted to practice in California at both the State and Federal levels.
Jo-Anna earned a B.S. in Finance and Multinational Business from Florida State University in 2005 at the age of 20, and she later earned her Juris Doctorate in 2009 from Florida State University as well. She is a member of the State Bars in California and Florida and is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central and Northern Districts of California. Jo-Anna always gives her best to her clients and passionately advocates on their behalf. If you are facing criminal charges and need a fierce criminal defense attorney, you will find what you are looking for at The Nieves Law Firm Criminal Defense Attorneys.
Her dedication goes beyond just her own practice, however, as she is committed to helping the next generation of lawyers. Jo-Anna has taught at the Trial Advocacy Workshop at Stanford Law since 2018 and has served as a mock trial coach for El Centro Legal de la Raza's Youth Academy.
First Admitted: 2011, California
Professional Webpage: http://www.thenieveslawfirm.com/jo-anna-nieves/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Admitted to practice in the State of California, 2011
- El Centro Legal de la Raza - Youth Law Academy Mock Trial Coach, 2019
- Admitted to practice in the State of Florida, 2016
- Charles Houston Bar Association member, 2016
- Earl Warren American Inn of Court member, 2016
Videos
- We know that everybody makes mistakes, but this situation that you're facing not only is tarnishing your reputation but it's taking you away from the things that are important to you. The Oakland criminal lawyer at The Nieves Law Firm will fight for you every step of the way. Jo-Anna Nieves founded this firm with the understanding that clients need to be able to trust their attorneys, something that stems from her personal experience when she was accused of a crime in her younger years. She understands the frustration, the fear, the anxiety, the stress, and the overwhelming uncertainty of the criminal justice system, and she used that understanding to build a criminal defense firm focused on the client. When you hire The Nieves Law Firm for your legal matters, you can expect to work with a team that is down to Earth, understanding of your situation, and ready to help you fight through it all. We have experience helping hundreds of clients a year with various types of cases and in various courthouses throughout California. Contact our Oakland criminal lawyers today to schedule a free consultation. To learn more about The Nieves Law Firm and their team of criminal lawyers in Oakland, visit: https://thenieveslawfirm.com, Why We Do What We Do, 2022
- Jo-Anna Nieves is an Oakland criminal defense lawyer and the founder of The Nieves Law Firm. Her exemplary legal work has been well-noted in the Bay Area community, as she has received numerous awards for her legal representation. She has also been published in multiple legal opinions by California judges. Jo-Anna practices in the fields of criminal defense, restraining orders, and contempt cases in the Bay Area. She also assists clients with post-conviction relief throughout the entire state of California. If you need assistance with a criminal matter in the Bay Area, contact Jo-Anna Nieves to schedule a free consultation. To learn more about Jo-Anna, visit: https://thenieveslawfirm.com/our-firm/jo-anna-nieves-esq/, Meet Jo-Anna Nieves, 2021
Pro bono / Community Service
- Vice President of the Alameda County Bar Association, 2023
- Stanford Law Trial Advocacy Workshop, 2022
- Clean Slate Project Oakland Expungement Center, 2021
- San Francisco Law Library - Post Conviction Relief for Attorneys and Their Clients, 2020
- Centro Legal de la Raza Mock Trial Coach, 2019
- UC Berkeley Public Service Law Conference - Low Bono/Solo Session, 2019
- Alameda County Bar Association Board of Directors, 2019
- Stanford Law Trial Advocacy Workshop, 2018
- Centro Legal de la Raza Mock Trial Coach, 2018
- El Centro Legal de la Raza Youth Law Academy Mock Trial Coach, 2016
- Alameda County Bar Association Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee
- Alameda County Bar Association Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee member, 2016
- Alameda County Bar Association Board of Directors, 2016
- Alameda County Bar Association Barrister's Section Executive Committee Vice-Chair, 2015
- Alameda County Bar Association Barrister's Section Executive Committee Chair, 2016
- Volunteer Legal Services Corporation - Family Law Day of Court Volunteer, 2015
- Alameda County Bar Association Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee member, 2015
- Alameda County Bar Association Barrister's Section Executive Committee Member, 2014
Educational Background
- Florida State University: J.D., 2009
- Florida State University: B.S. Finance, B.S. Multinational Business, 2005
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- The Alameda County Bar Association's 2-day New Attorney Boot Camp is specifically designed to jump start legal careers. The first day begins with a session on conflicts of interest, confidentiality, time keeping, trust accounts, malpractice insurance, professionalism, etc. before breaking into three separate tracks - 1) Civil Litigation, 2) Criminal, and 3) Transactional. The 2nd day includes hands-on practical seminars within each track. All sessions are taught by teams of experienced professionals including plaintiff attorneys, civil and criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges. , Panelist, New Attorney Boot Camp, Alameda County Bar Association, Legal, 2014
- 2-day panel discussion with new attorneys in three separate tracks: civil, criminal, and transactional., Panelist, New Attorney Boot Camp, Alameda County Bar Association, Legal, 2015
- Engaging new clients through an electronic process and the effective use of in-office client relationship and case management technology. , Electronic Client Engagement, How To Manage A Small Law Firm, 2017
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Florida State University Alumni Association - Thirty Under 30 Award Recipient for outstanding achievement., 2014
Honors
- Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States., Best Attorneys in Oakland, Expertise, 2023
- Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States., Best Lawyers in Alameda, Expertise, 2023
- Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States., Best DUI Lawyers in Oakland, Expertise, 2023
- Seminole 100 recognizes the 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned or alumni-led businesses at a celebration on FSU's campus each year, during which each company learns their numerical ranking and receives their award., #21 on Seminole 100, Florida State University, 2023
- The Avvo Rating is our effort to evaluate a lawyer’s background based on the information available in an attorney’s Avvo profile. We create the rating using a model that considers information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Any information that affects the Avvo Rating is visible in an attorney’s profile., 10.0 Rating, Avvo, 2023
- Here are the 2022 Top 5 Best Attorneys as voted for by residents in Oakland and throughout the East Bay., Best of Oakland, Top 5 Attorneys, Oakland Magazine, 2022
- Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States., Best Attorneys in Oakland, Expertise, 2022
- Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States., Best Lawyers in Alameda, Expertise, 2022
- Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States., Best DUI Lawyers in Oakland, Expertise, 2022
- Seminole 100 recognizes the 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned or alumni-led businesses at a celebration on FSU's campus each year, during which each company learns their numerical ranking and receives their award., #35 on Seminole 100, Florida State University, 2022
- While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2022
- The Avvo Rating is our effort to evaluate a lawyer’s background based on the information available in an attorney’s Avvo profile. We create the rating using a model that considers information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Any information that affects the Avvo Rating is visible in an attorney’s profile., 10.0 Rating, Avvo, 2022
- To celebrate and honor law firms that have experienced major growth over the last year., #60 Fastest Growing Law Firm in the US, Law Firm 500, 2022
- Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States., Best Attorneys in Oakland, Expertise, 2021
- Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States., Best DUI Lawyers in Oakland, Expertise, 2021
- Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States., Best Lawyers in Alameda, Expertise, 2021
- Seminole 100 recognizes the 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned or alumni-led businesses at a celebration on FSU's campus each year, during which each company learns their numerical ranking and receives their award., #34 on Seminole 100, Florida State University, 2021
- While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Super Lawyers Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2021
- The Avvo Rating is our effort to evaluate a lawyer’s background based on the information available in an attorney’s Avvo profile. We create the rating using a model that considers information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Any information that affects the Avvo Rating is visible in an attorney’s profile., 10.0 Rating, Avvo, 2021
- To celebrate and honor law firms that have experienced major growth over the last year., #45 Fastest Growing Law Firm in the US, Law Firm 500, 2021
- Seminole 100 recognizes the 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned or alumni-led businesses at a celebration on FSU's campus each year, during which each company learns their numerical ranking and receives their award., #6 on Seminole 100, Florida State University, 2020
- LCA – The Litigation Counsel of America. A close-knit, peer-selected, and aggressively diverse honorary society of 3,500 of the best trial lawyers you will find anywhere. Less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers, vigorously vetted for skills, expertise, and service; an invitation-only collegial network of lawyers who effectively represent clients across North America and around the world., Proven Trial Lawyer, Litigation Counsel of America, 2020
- The Avvo Rating is our effort to evaluate a lawyer’s background based on the information available in an attorney’s Avvo profile. We create the rating using a model that considers information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Any information that affects the Avvo Rating is visible in an attorney’s profile., 10.0 Rating, Avvo, 2020
- To celebrate and honor law firms that have experienced major growth over the last year., #16 Fastest Growing Law Firm in the US, Law Firm 500, 2020
- While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Super Lawyers Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2020
- While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Super Lawyers Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2019
- The Avvo Rating is our effort to evaluate a lawyer’s background based on the information available in an attorney’s Avvo profile. We create the rating using a model that considers information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Any information that affects the Avvo Rating is visible in an attorney’s profile., 10.0 Rating, Avvo, 2019
- To celebrate and honor law firms that have experienced major growth over the last year., #12 Fastest Growing Law Firm in the US, Law Firm 500, 2019
- While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Super Lawyers Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2018
- These award recipients represent tremendous service to the community, whether through acting as mentors, demonstrating leadership, fostering a dynamic social network for new lawyers, partnering with the local community to make our streets safer, or by continuing to provide valuable public services in the face of limited resources. Jo-Anna Nieves is an active and engaged member of the Alameda County Bar Association and her passion, commitment to excellence, quiet reflection, and drive for justice and service embodies the spirit of the ideal new lawyers in Alameda County., Distinguished Service Award, Alameda County Bar Association, 2017
- While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Super Lawyers Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2017
- Lawyers of Distinction Members have been selected based upon a review and vetting process by our Selection Committee utilizing U.S. Provisional Patent # 62/743,254. The platform generates a numerical score of 1 to 5 for each of the 12 enumerated factors which are meant to recognize the applicant’s achievements and peer recognition. All applicants must be licensed to practice law. Members are then subject to a final review for ethical violations within the past ten years before confirmation of Membership., Top 10% in the USA, Lawyers of Distinction, 2017
- While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Super Lawyers Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2016
- Thirty Under 30 Award Recipient, Florida State University's Young Alumni Association, 2014
Industry Groups
- Legal
Office location for Jo-Anna Nieves
160 Franklin St
Suite 210
Oakland, CA 94607
Selections
2 Years Super Lawyers
9 Years Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2025 - 2026
- Rising Stars: 2016 - 2024