Defense Litigation Associate Attorney - Mass Torts & Products Liability (CT)

Murtha Cullina LLP; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris Beach Murtha invites an associate attorney to join its Mass Torts and Industry‑Wide Litigation, Products Liability team in a hybrid CT setting (Hartford, New Haven or Stamford). The role emphasizes defense of complex injury matters and collaboration across offices nationwide.

Ideal candidates have 4+ years of mass torts experience, strong deposition and discovery skills, and a JD from an ABA‑accredited school. Connecticut bar admission is required, with NY/NJ/MA a plus.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from ABA‑accredited law school.
• 4+ years of mass torts and products‑liability defense experience.
• Strong deposition and motion practice skills.
• Excellent research, writing, and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Litigate matters involving complex injury defense.
• Take and defend depositions as first chair.
• Manage discovery, including e-discovery.
• Draft reports, legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, and briefs.
• Participate in trial and ADR planning and preparation.
• Represent clients at conferences and motion hearings.
• Supervise day‑to‑day case tasks with partner support.

Skills

Mass torts experience

Deposition experience

E-discovery

Trial preparation

Legal writing

Education

Juris Doctor from ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Zoom

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Location:

Hartford, New Haven or Stamford, CT (Hybrid Work Schedule)

Experience Level:

4+ years of experience in Mass Torts, Products Liability Defense Litigation

About the Role:

We are seeking an associate attorney to join our nationally-recognized Mass Torts and Industry-Wide Litigation, Products Liability team. Given the broad reach of our practice, this role will involve working collaboratively with colleagues in all of our offices, as well as with local counsel throughout the country.

The Defense Litigation Associate Will Have The Opportunity To

• Litigate matters involving complex injury defense
• Take and defend depositions as first chair
• Manage discovery, including e-discovery
• Draft reports, legal memoranda, pleadings, discovery demands and responses, motions, and briefs
• Participate in trial and ADR planning and preparation
• Represent clients at courtroom conferences and motion appearances
• Manage day-to-day case responsibilities with partner supervision

Work Environment And Expectations

• A hybrid work opportunity in one of Harris Beach Murtha’s Connecticut offices (Hartford, New Haven, Stamford)
• Minimum annual billable requirement of 1900 hours
• Engagement in sophisticated, high‑stakes litigation on behalf of long‑standing clients

Applications Are Encouraged And Desired If You Have

• Admission to the Connecticut bar (required); admission in NY, NJ and/or MA a plus
• Juris Doctor from ABA‑accredited law school
• Experience practicing before Connecticut state courts; federal experience is a plus
• Strong deposition, motion practice, pleading, and e-discovery experience
• Familiarity with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other video conferencing platforms
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize workload and manage competing deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to quickly absorb, process, and understand new information
• High standards of performance, professionalism, and accountability
• A cooperative, positive, and flexible team-oriented attitude
• Military experience welcome

Agency Submissions

Harris Beach Murtha is not accepting candidate submissions from recruiting agencies for this position during the first two weeks after posting. Following this period, agencies with an active fee agreement with the firm may reach out to our internal recruitment team at [e-mail] to inquire about potential collaboration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Harris Beach Murtha is committed to an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from diverse candidates with varied background and skills, including military experience. Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About Harris Beach Murtha

Harris Beach Murtha formed in 2025 via the combination of Harris Beach PLLC and Murtha Cullina LLP. A forward-thinking and innovative partnership with the benefit of more than 250 years of combined history, Harris Beach Murtha’s New York roots reach back to 1856 and the firm has had ties to New England since 1936. Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina were separately among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal.

Harris Beach Murtha and its subsidiaries have a strong Northeast presence, but a global reach. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, tax‑exempt organizations and individuals. The firm’s practice areas and industries served span appellate law, business litigation, commercial real estate, construction, corporate, environmental, energy, financial institutions, financial restructuring, government compliance and investigations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, mass torts, medical and life sciences, political law, product liability, public finance, tax, and trusts and estates.

The firm’s lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains, as well as in Boston, Massachusetts and Newark, New Jersey.

The firm’s policy prohibiting unlawful discrimination applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, placement, assignment of duties, training, promotion, compensation & benefits and termination. It is the policy of Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC that all applicants and employees enjoy a positive, respectful and productive work environment, free from behavior, actions or language constituting unlawful harassment. Accordingly, harassment or discrimination of any kind based on an individual’s race or color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, carrier status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, creed, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status is strictly prohibited. Harris Beach Murtha complies with the provisions of the Human Rights Law, all other State and Federal statutory and constitutional non‑discrimination provisions including non‑discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.