Defense Litigation Associate Attorney – Medical and Life Sciences

Harris Beach Murtha; Uniondale (NY); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

A major law firm in Uniondale, NY seeks a legal associate to support their Medical and Life Sciences team. This role involves managing depositions, drafting complex legal documents, and participating in trial strategies. Candidates should have 6-10+ years of courtroom experience and must possess a Juris Doctorate. Strong research, writing, and communication skills are essential. The firm offers competitive compensation including salary ranges between $165,000 and $185,000 depending on location.

Qualifications

• 6-10+ years of first chair deposition and courtroom experience required.
• Must be admitted in New York; New Jersey a plus.
• Familiarity with video conferencing platforms is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Take and defend depositions.
• Research legal, medical and scientific issues.
• Draft memoranda, briefs, and complex motions.

Skills

Excellent research skills

Verbal communication

Writing skills

Ability to manage competing priorities

High level organizational skills

Experience with video conferencing platforms

Education

Juris Doctorate from ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Zoom

MS Teams

Job description

Location: Open to the following Harris Beach Murtha offices for a hybrid opportunity: New York, NY, Long Island (Uniondale), NY or White Plains, NY

Description: This associate will support the Medical and Life Sciences team in the defense of general and premises liability matters for a variety of clients including senior living, health care, restaurant/building owners; as well as assist in product liability defense of manufacturers of prescription, over-the-counter and/or consumer-use FDA regulated products, pending in New York, New Jersey and federal courts.

Responsibilities

• Take and defend depositions
• Research various legal, medical and scientific issues and collaborate with senior attorneys about strategies
• Draft memoranda, briefs, significant and complex motions including motions for summary judgment, pleadings, discovery
• Draft reports to clients, including deposition reports, medical record analyses, case analysis reports, case valuations
• Coordinate with and work-up expert witnesses
• Participate in trial, mediation and ADR planning and preparation
• Represent clients at courtroom appearances, including oral argument of motions and discovery conferences
• The firm requires a minimum of 1900 billable hours annually

Qualifications

• 6-10+ years of first chair deposition, and courtroom experience general/premises liability and/or product liability matters required
• Must be admitted in New York; New Jersey a plus
• Juris Doctorate from ABA-accredited law school
• Familiarity with Zoom, MS Teams, and other video conferencing platforms to participate in depositions, court conferences, and meetings
• Must have ability to travel for in person depositions and court conferences, including overnight, as needed
• Excellent research skills, writing skills and verbal communication required
• Must be able to function effectively in a fast-paced, team oriented environment
• Demonstrated high level organizational skills for prioritizing workload
• Demonstrated ability to absorb, process and understand, new information rapidly
• Must be able to manage competing priorities
• Maintains high standards of performance
• Exhibit conscientiousness, dedication, self-discipline, and a sense of responsibility
• Must have a professional, cooperative, positive and flexible attitude
• Military experience welcome

Salary information

Long Island (Uniondale), White Plains: $165,000 - $185,000

New York City: $175,000 - $185,000

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.