Employment & Labor Associate Attorney

Employment & Labor Associate AttorneyDirect Counsel is seeking an Employment & Labor Associate Attorney to join a sophisticated East Coast–based law firm.This is an excellent opportunity for a 3–4 year associate with employer-side employment litigation and labor experience to join a growing team handling a wide range of workplace disputes, counseling matters, and labor relations issues.The ideal candidate will have strong experience representing employers in state and federal court litigation, administrative proceedings, labor arbitration, and day-to-day employment counseling matters.LocationsHartford, Connecticut; Parsippany, New Jersey; Stamford, ConnecticutPosition OverviewThe successful candidate will have 3–4 years of demonstrated employment and labor litigation experience, with a focus on management-side representation.This role is ideal for an attorney with experience in:Employment litigation in state and federal courtsAdministrative proceedingsLabor arbitrationInternal investigationsWorkplace policy draftingEmployment counselingRestrictive covenant and non-compete disputesThe firm offers a hybrid schedule with two remote days per week.Key ResponsibilitiesRepresent employers in: State court litigationFederal court litigationAdministrative proceedingsLabor arbitrationsHandle matters involving: Discrimination claimsWage and hour disputesBreach of contractWrongful termination and workplace claimsSupport non-compete and restrictive covenant litigationConduct internal workplace investigationsCounsel clients on: Labor relationsEmployment law complianceWorkplace best practicesRisk mitigation strategiesDraft and review: Employment agreementsRestrictive covenant agreementsSeparation agreementsEmployee handbooksWorkplace policiesProvide practical advice on day-to-day HR and employee relations issuesQualificationsJ.D. from an accredited law school3–4 years of employer-side employment and labor litigation experienceStrong experience with: State and federal employment litigationAdministrative agency proceedingsLabor arbitrationLegal research and writingEmployer counselingExperience with non-compete litigation is a plusExperience conducting internal investigations and drafting workplace policies is preferredExcellent advocacy, writing, and communication skillsStrong client service orientation and practical judgmentAbility to work independently and collaborativelyBar admission in Connecticut or New Jersey requiredAdmission in New York, Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts is a plusIdeal CandidateThe ideal attorney will be:Employer-side and business-mindedA strong litigator and practical workplace counselorComfortable advising HR teams, executives, and in-house counselSkilled at balancing litigation strategy with preventative counselingCollaborative, proactive, and responsiveInterested in building a broad labor & employment platformWhy This OpportunityThis is an outstanding opportunity for an associate seeking a balanced labor and employment practice that combines litigation, arbitration, counseling, internal investigations, and restrictive covenant work. The breadth of the platform makes this especially attractive for attorneys looking to build a well-rounded employer-side practice with long-term growth potential.