What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Attorney - Municipal Law and Litigation position at Harris Beach Murtha?
Location: Hartford, CT (Hybrid)
Experience Level: 2-5 years of litigation experience, preferably with exposure to municipal law, land use or administrative law. Experience with creditors’ rights, landlord-tenant litigation and/or insurance defense litigation is a plus.
About the Role: Harris Beach Murtha is seeking an associate to join its collaborative Litigation team in Hartford. This role will work with attorneys in the Municipalities & Local Agencies Industry Team, and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, and other litigators. This associate will work closely with experienced attorneys, including leadership within the office, on a wide range of municipal and land use matters, landlord-tenant litigation, insurance defense litigation, and regulatory issues affecting public sector clients. The work is fast-paced, team-oriented, and provides meaningful responsibility across all phases of client engagements. While the primary focus of this role is municipal and land use work, the associate will also support broader litigation matters, including creditors’ rights and landlord-tenant litigation, as needed.
The Associate Will Have The Opportunity To
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.
Experience Level: 2-5 years of litigation experience, preferably with exposure to municipal law, land use or administrative law. Experience with creditors’ rights, landlord-tenant litigation and/or insurance defense litigation is a plus.
About the Role: Harris Beach Murtha is seeking an associate to join its collaborative Litigation team in Hartford. This role will work with attorneys in the Municipalities & Local Agencies Industry Team, and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, and other litigators. This associate will work closely with experienced attorneys, including leadership within the office, on a wide range of municipal and land use matters, landlord-tenant litigation, insurance defense litigation, and regulatory issues affecting public sector clients. The work is fast-paced, team-oriented, and provides meaningful responsibility across all phases of client engagements. While the primary focus of this role is municipal and land use work, the associate will also support broader litigation matters, including creditors’ rights and landlord-tenant litigation, as needed.
The Associate Will Have The Opportunity To
- Represent municipalities, boards, agencies, and private clients in litigation, administrative proceedings and hearings
- Assist with all phases of municipal and land use matters, including zoning, planning, subdivisions, and related regulatory issues
- Draft pleadings, memoranda, motions, briefs, contracts, and regulatory submissions
- Conduct legal research and collaborate with senior attorneys on case strategy and client counseling
- Support clients on matters involving property tax appeals, public health issues, and other matters uniquely affecting municipalities
- Advise on compliance with local, state, and federal regulations impacting governmental entities
- Work across a broad range of municipal issues, including governance, policy, and operational challenges
- Creditors’ Rights
- Landlord-Tenant
- Insurance Defense
- A hybrid work opportunity in Harris Beach Murtha’s Hartford, CT office
- Exposure to a diverse mix of litigation, regulatory, and advisory work for public sector clients
- Collaborative, team-oriented environment with opportunities for mentorship and professional growth
- Minimum annual billable requirement of 1800 hours
- Admission to the Connecticut bar (required)
- Admission to the New York and/or Massachusetts bar (preferred)
- Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school
- Experience with Connecticut state courts, administrative bodies, or local land use boards
- Strong research, writing, and verbal communication skills
- The ability to function effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
- Demonstrated ability to rapidly absorb and analyze new information
- A high level of professionalism, conscientiousness, and responsibility
- A positive, flexible, and cooperative attitude
- Military experience welcome
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.