Connell Foley LLP partner Patricia (“Patti”) Lee has been named 2024 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by the New Jersey Law Journal. A strong proponent of its lawyers and staff undertaking volunteer legal work, Connell Foley supports pro bono initiatives in every way and is especially proud of Patti’s achievement!
Bolstered by her early-career experience as a practitioner in the areas of criminal, family, municipal, and appellate law, and her enhanced experience over two decades as a commercial and healthcare litigator, Patti has carved out significant time over the last several years to provide dedicated pro bono representation of New Jersey domestic abuse victims, both in the trial and appellate courts. She provides these important services in connection with her work for Partners for Women and Justice and the Rachel Coalition.
Patti’s volunteer work goes beyond pro bono representation of domestic violence victims. In her role as civil practice committee chair of the Essex County Bar Association (ECBA), Patti dedicated numerous hours over the last several years to develop and oversee a virtual program of experienced volunteer attorneys serving as settlement specialists to help resolve the backlog of trial-ready cases in the Essex Vicinage Superior Court, Civil Division, Special Civil Part.