For such a small state, the laws of Connecticut play an outsized role in the governance of American business. Eleven of the Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters in Connecticut, including General Electric, United Technologies and Xerox. Hartford, the state’s largest city, is one of the most important headquarters for insurance in the U.S., and the state also has a large share of financial service and investment corporations.

Connecticut state law has a long history, dating back to colonial times. Connecticut was one of the original 13 states, and several of its most prominent legal minds played important roles in the development of laws in the United States, including Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth, the third Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Yale Law School, located in New Haven, is consistently ranked as the top law school in the United States. Howard, Kohn, Sprague & FitzGerald, a law firm located in Hartford, claims to be the oldest law firm in continuous practice in the United States, having been founded in 1786.

You should know that:

1). As one of the original 13 colonies, Connecticut has one of the oldest codes. Consequently, laws in Connecticut can be complex.

2). Connecticut state laws are considered business-friendly compared to other states.

3). The bigger Connecticut law firms are generally located in Hartford.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know your Connecticut Law

It's easy to find information about law in Connecticut on the Internet

I recommend: If you are interested in Connecticut court decisions, the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch provides a great archive of past cases free of charge. If it's Connecticut state law you are looking for, the Connecticut General Assembly provides a very usable site that allows access to the entire Connecticut code.

For simple legal issues, consult legal advice sites and products to find information about CT law

Connecticut attorneys and legal groups offer numerous ways to understand and interpret Connecticut law without going to a Connecticut law firm.

I recommend: One of the best sites for low cost advice about Connecticut law is run by the Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut, which offers legal self-help material in addition to links to legal resources and other helpful information. If you are interested in dealing more directly with a Connecticut lawyer, Connecticut Legal Opinion offers a free case review and advice by practicing Connecticut attorneys.

For more complicated legal issues, consult a Connecticut law firm

Sometimes it's best to hire an attorney when dealing with Connecticut law. Here's how you do that.

I recommend: The Connecticut Bar Association offers a fairly comprehensive listing of practicing Connecticut lawyers and Connecticut law firms. Findlaw and Lawyers.com also have good listings of lawyers in Connecticut and Connecticut law firms, divided by practice areas.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The legal databases that are provided by the state and courts of Connecticut are simple and straightforward. For more complicated research needs, utilize a paid service.
• •  When searching out Connecticut lawyers and Connecticut law firms, try to filter by your legal issue, as most Connecticut attorneys specialize.