Paul Slager represents plaintiffs in complex cases where people have suffered life-changing personal or financial injuries. His experience as a tested trial lawyer with significant courtroom experience and skills — as well as a genuine affection for the people he represents — shapes his approach in every case.
Mr. Slager has a national reputation as an elite advocate for seriously injured people, but he focuses his law practice on helping people in courts throughout Connecticut. His track record is long, and his history of large recoveries for his clients is well documented. The Connecticut Super Lawyers* publication has repeatedly listed him as one of the Top 10 Attorneys in Connecticut. He is honored to be the only trial attorney to have three different verdicts or settlements inducted as winners in the Connecticut Law Tribune’s Personal Injury Hall of Fame, and the Best Lawyers publication has named Mr. Slager a “Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year” in several plaintiff-centered practice areas many times, including most recently in 2025 and 2026.
During 2019-20, Mr. Slager was elected and served as President of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, a bar association that serves more than 1,300-member trial attorneys. He served in that capacity when the COVID pandemic hit, working closely with all stakeholders, including the Connecticut Bar Association, the Connecticut legislature, and the Connecticut Judicial Branch, to respond in real time to the crisis the pandemic created for Connecticut’s court systems. He is an elected member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only membership limited to 500 active lawyers across the United States. Both the Connecticut legislature and the Judicial Branch have appointed him multiple times to committees studying potential improvements in laws providing protections to Connecticut citizens.
Mr. Slager pursues serious cases in Connecticut that stem from catastrophic events, including medical malpractice, sexual abuse, violent crimes, interstate trucking crashes, defective consumer products, fires and explosions, brain injuries, and other life-altering events. Consistent with his interest in handling complex cases, He also has pursued cases for businesses and individuals on a contingency fee basis in situations involving significant financial disputes.
In keeping with the core principles of Slager Madry, Mr. Slager only accepts cases that involve serious consequences, and only after conducting a detailed investigation to determine cases have merit. He will pursue cases only when doing so will balance an important injustice, improve public safety, or otherwise make a significant positive difference for a family or the larger community.
A few examples of Mr. Slager’s cases include:
- The civil case against Yale University on behalf of the family of Annie Le, the Yale University graduate student who was murdered in her campus laboratory
- Numerous cases where negligent medical care led to premature death, limb amputations, delayed or misdiagnosis of cancers, and other life-altering injuries
- Cases for infants and mothers who suffered brain damage or other serious injuries as a result medical negligence related to labor and delivery
- Representing victims of childhood sexual abuse in cases against public and private schools, the Boy Scouts of America, and other responsible institutions
- Representing victims of the massive explosion at the Kleen Energy power plant in Middletown, CT, including the widow of a Canadian man who died in the blast
- Representing the victims of several of Connecticut’s most notorious and highly publicized crimes, including the violent assault of a mother and her children in the public parking lot of a large national hotel chain and the strangulation and assault at the Willow Springs Condominium Complex in New Milford, CT
- Representing the family of child who suffered permanent brain damage against a Connecticut hospital, where the child’s newborn screening tests, required by state law, would have revealed a serious and treatable congenital condition but were never completed as required
- Representing he family of a six-year-old boy who died from drowning as a result of becoming entrapped in the drain of the family swimming pool, which was dangerously defective, resulting in the largest civil settlement of an individual case in Connecticut history
- Invited presenter on history and practical tips for jury selection in Connecticut state court trials. , Lecturer and Presenter, Voir Dire: Practice Tips and History Lessons, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Certified Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 2024
- Invited presenter at national conference in Atlanta, on topic of privacy rights of abuse survivors., Lecturer and Presenter, Salt in the Wounds: Protecting the Privacy Rights of Child Sexual Abuse Survivors, National Conference of the National Crime Victims Bar Association, Atlanta, GA, 2021
- Lectured and participated in virtual panel discussion of law schools and legal industry professionals on the topic of COVID liability issues. , Speaker and Panelist, COVID Liability, Safe to Work Act Panel, University of Wisconsin Law School, Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic, Madison, WI, 2020
- Speaker, “The Child Sexual Abuse Epidemic: Representing Child Victims,” Presenter, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Southbury, CT, December 2018
- “Child Sexual Abuse: Considerations for Civil Advocates,” The Forum, Spring 2019 Issue
- Speaker, “Making Invisible Brain Injuries Visible,” Recognizing & Proving the Invisible Injury Legal Education Seminar, Orange, Connecticut, May 2008
- Guest Lecture and Panelist, “Concussion Litigation and Potential Economic Impact on Sports,” University of Connecticut Sports and Economics Course, Storrs, CT, July 2018
- Speaker, “Proving Brain Injury Through Lay Witnesses,” Fundamentals of Brain Trauma in New York Legal Education Seminar, New York, New York, October 1, 2007
- Speaker, “Federal Practice Nuts and Bolts,” Feeling Confident in Federal Court Continuing Legal Education Seminar, New Haven, Connecticut, May 2007
- Speaker, “Handling Unexpected Trial Emergencies,” Responding to Legal Emergencies Legal Education Seminar, New Haven, Connecticut, October 2006
- Co-Chair, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, “Maximizing Economic Damages,” Continuing Legal Education Seminar, and Speaker, “The Trauma of Surival: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Serious Injury Cases,” Orange, Connecticut, October 2012
- Presenter, “Home Invasion: Seeking Civil Justice for Condominium Victims of Serious Crimes”, 2013 National Conference, National Center for Victims of Crime and National Crime Victim Bar Association, Phoenix, Arizona, September 2013
- “Is there a Winner in this Game? The NFL Head Trauma Settlement,” TheLaw.tv, September 2013, news.thelaw.tv/2013/09/05/is-there-a-winner-in-this-game-the-nfl-head-trauma-settlement/
- Trial Advocacy College: Damages/Openings Faculty, American Association of Justice Education, Atlanta, Georgia, October 2013
- “Medical Malpractice: Trends and Issues,” Stamford Hospital Clinical Grand Rounds, Stamford, Connecticut, May 2013
- “Evaluating an Attorney’s Expertise,” Brainwaves, August 2012
- “The NFL Head Trauma Settlement: For the Love of the Game,” Concussion Litigation Reporter, October 2013, Vol. 2, No. 4
- “Home Invasion: Seeking Civil Justice for Condominium Victims of Serious Crimes,” 2013 National Conference, National Center for Victims of Crime and National Crime Victim Bar Association, Phoenix, Arizona, September 2013
- Trial Advocacy College: Damages/Openings Faculty, American Association of Justice Education, Atlanta, Georgia, October 2013
- Editorial Board, The Forum Publication, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2007 – Present
- Editor-in-Chief, The Forum Publication, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2011- Present
- Editorial Board, The Forum publication, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2007 – Present
- Graduate Faculty, University of New Hampshire, Department of Family Studies, for service on Graduate Committee for Master’s Degree candidate, 2009 – 2010
- “Connecticut Concussion Law 2014: A Legal Review of Concussion Law and Policy,” The Concussion Conference, Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT, May 2014
- “Civil Justice for Victims of Crime in Connecticut,” Professional Training Seminar, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, June 2015
- “Understanding & Presenting Evidence of Significant Emotional Damages,” Co-chair and Presenter, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Orange, CT, March 2016
- Editor-in-Chief, The Forum Publication, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, 2011 – Present
- “Medical Malpractice: Perspectives from your Patients,” Yale University School of Medicine, Grand Rounds, New Haven, CT, September 2017
- Author, Book Chapter, “Climbing the Malpractice Mountain: A Survey of Challenges in the Modern Medical Negligence Lawsuit,” Representing Plaintiffs in Medical Malpractice Cases, Thomson Reuters, 2012
- “Whacked: Impact, Sports, and Young Athletes’ Brains,” University of Connecticut Science Salon, Hartford, CT, February 2018
- “Brain Injury and the Law: A Primer for Survivors & Families,” Making Strides, July 2010
- “Medical Malpractice: Perspectives from your Patients,” Yale University School of Medicine, Grand Rounds, New Haven, CT, September 2017
- “Flying Blind: The Ramifications of Hamilton v. USAA,” by Paul Slager and Amanda R. Whitman, The Forum, Winter 2010
- “Tackling Head Trauma: the Concussion Problem in Sports,” Sports Litigation Alert, March 2009
- “Legal Recourse After Brain Injury: Issues for Consideration,” Making Strides Magazine, Brain Injury Association of Connecticut, July, 2008
- “Shutting Down Objectionable Conduct”, CTLA Forum, Spring 2006
- Speaker, “Protecting the Process: Shepherding Experts from Retention through Discovery,” Expert Witnesses Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Orange, Connecticut, February 2011
- Speaker, “The Rewards and Hazards of Videotaping Depositions,” Taking, Defending and Utilizing Depositions Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Fairfield County Bar Association, Stamford, Connecticut, February 2011
- Presenter, “Institutional Policy and Family Victimization” session, International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference, Portsmouth, NH, July 2010
- Speaker, “Lights…Camera…Action: the Costs and Benefits of Videotaping Depositions in Connecticut,” Winning Deposition Techniques Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Orange, Connecticut, April 2010
- Speaker, “Proving Brain Injury Through Lay Witnesses,” Fundamentals of Brain Trauma in New York Legal Education Seminar, New York, New York, October 2008
- Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Best Lawyers, 2026
- Lawyer of the Year, Mass Torts/Class Actions, Stamford, Best Lawyers, 2026
- Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Best Lawyers, 2025
- Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation, Best Lawyers, 2024
- Lawyer of the Year, Mass Torts/Class Actions, Stamford, Best Lawyers, 2023
- Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation, Stamford, Best Lawyers, 2021
- Rated AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, highest possible rating of legal abilities and ethical standards, AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed, Top 50, Connecticut Super Lawyers, 2024
- Listed, Top 10, Connecticut Super Lawyers, 2022
- Listed, Top 10, Connecticut Super Lawyers, 2021
- Listed, Top 10, Connecticut Super Lawyers, 2020
- Awarded, First 100 Plus Leader, Connecticut Coalition on Domestic Violence, for making a positive difference assisting Connecticut victims of domestic violence
- Recipient, Partners’ Award, Connecticut Legislature, Commission on Children
- Recognized in the Connecticut Law Tribune Top Verdicts and Settlements, for the Kramer v. Markind, et al. jury trial verdict, a Top 3 Medical Malpractice Verdict in Connecticut in 2016
- Recognized by the Connecticut Law Tribune Personal Injury Hall of Fame, for Achieving Largest Verdict or Settlement, Intentional Tort Category, 2015
- Recognized by the Connecticut Law Tribune Personal Injury Hall of Fame, for Achieving Largest Verdict or Settlement, Intentional Tort Category, 2014
- Recognized by the Connecticut Law Tribune Personal Injury Hall of Fame, for Achieving Largest Verdict or Settlement, Product Liability Category, 2014
- Listed as one of Top 100 New England Lawyers in six state region, New England Super Lawyers
- Listed as one of Top 50 Connecticut Lawyers, Connecticut Super Lawyers
- Listed, New England Super Lawyers (every year published)
- Listed, Connecticut Super Lawyers (every year published)
- Named one of the “Dozen Who Made a Difference in 2011,” by the Connecticut Law Tribune
- Former President, Connecticut Trial Lawyers, 2019-20
- Executive Committee Member, Connecticut Trial Lawyers (current)
- Elected, Board of Directors, Connecticut Bar Foundation, 2025-present
- Member, Advisory Board, National Crime Victims Bar Association (current)
- Former Board Member of CHILD USadvocacy
- Elected Member, American Law Institute (current)
- Elected Member, International Academy of Trial Lawyers (limited to 500 actively practicing lawyers, nationwide)
- Appointed by Connecticut Legislature, Task Force on Non-Profit Liability, 2025
- Appointed by Connecticut Legislature, 2014-2015 Task Force to Study Occurrences of Concussion in Youth Athletics
- Appointed by Connecticut Legislature, 2019-20 Task Force on Statutes of Limitations for Personal Injury Caused by Sexual Abuse, Sexual Exploitation or Sexual Assault
- Awarded, Partners’ Award, Connecticut Legislature’s Commission on Children, 2016
- Awarded, President’s Award, highest organizational honor, Brain Injury Alliance of CT (formerly Brain Injury Association of CT)
- President, Board of Directors, Brain Injury Association of Connecticut, 2008 – 2013
- Member, American Association for Justice, Leaders Forum
- Appointed Member, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Civil Commission, 2013-2016
- Appointed as Graduate Faculty Member, University of New Hampshire, Department of Family Studies, for service on Graduate Committee for Master’s Degree candidate