Criminal Defense Attorney: Fairfield & New Haven Counties Territory

Are you a new attorney who thinks they chose the wrong practice area? Are you looking for a chance to practice criminal law because you always considered it, but civil or family practice appealed to you out of law school but now you realize that you are not getting joy from that practice? Are you a senior lawyer who can’t imagine 10, 20, or 30 more years of this daily grind and want to get into court, daily, helping people navigate real-world legal problems instead of shuffling motions for a faceless corporate entity that doesn’t bake you cookies when you help them win a case (yes, that happens to us sometimes!)

The firm’s legal department is seeking an additional full-time Criminal Lawyer to join its team at its Shelton, CT location. This position provides for both in-office and remote work in a hybrid model based on your professional sensibility and the needs of the clients. This attorney would handle a criminal defense caseload in Fairfield and New Haven Counties for us.

We are committed to hiring attorneys that are passionate about helping people, have a ‘no job too-big or too-small mentality, and understand that a person’s experience with the firm does not begin and end in the courtroom. Ruane Attorneys invests in the success and growth of the firm by hiring teammates that not only understand the law but also understand the real-world impact that people face when they are going through a legal matter. This is a perfect opportunity to join a firm with an established team of passionate individuals that are committed to upholding high standards of representation and customer service.

$100,000 - $125,000 yearly

• Appear in court on behalf of clients and argue motions during legal proceedings
• Complete legal research and prepare motions, pleadings, and briefs
• Oversee paralegals, law clerks, and administrative staff
• Prepare various legal documents, such as motions, pleadings, briefs, and correspondence
• Take responsibility for administrative staff relating to client invoicing/billing records, setting up meetings with clients and completing tasks

• Advanced computer skills working with legal research programs (Westlaw and Lexis) required
• Successful completion of accredited law school with Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree with 2 years of related experience
• Must be able to handle heavy caseload with little supervision
• Public speaking, decision-making, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills are necessary for this role
• Minimum 1-2 years’ experience working in a law firm environment

• Must be an active Bar member, in good standing with no pending or prior disciplinary history.
• Applicants should be motivated self-starters, who are able to work independently and communicate effectively with clients and the team.
• Must have a proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Possess a demonstrated history of excellence in their career, as well as a passion for serving criminal defense clients.
• Strong written, verbal, and public speaking communication skills.
• Comfortable in an all-Mac environment.
• Excellent analytical abilities.
• Good organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work well independently but more importantly as part of a team.
• Ability to exercise flexibility, initiative, good judgment, and discretion.

We are a mid-sized law firm headquartered in Shelton, CT with offices and attorneys throughout Connecticut. The firm handles all areas of criminal, civil rights, habeas corpus, motor vehicle, and juvenile law. We fight for underdogs daily.

Our firm was built on the understanding that comprehensive representation does not begin and end in the courtroom. We want our clients to be satisfied with their choice of firm, not just with their choice of attorney. Our client service and support staff are dedicated to making the experience of retaining an attorney as smooth as possible and ensuring that no client ever has a question or concern that goes unanswered. It doesn’t matter how good an attorney is if they don’t pay close attention to the wants and needs of the client. We want to make sure that each of our clients is as happy with the experience they have with our firm as they are with the ultimate result of their case.

We are an equal-opportunity employer.