Elizabeth Connolly
Elizabeth Connolly 
Age: 29
Place of birth: New Rochelle, New York.
Where you live: Upper East Side, Manhattan.
Job Description: As a trial attorney in the Tort Division of the New York City Corporation Counsel, I defend the City, its agencies, and its employees against personal injury lawsuits at the trial stage. Prior
to becoming a trial attorney, I handled all aspects of high exposure cases where police officers were sued for their alleged wrongdoing. Throughout my career, I have defended police officers, firefighters, teachers, sanitation workers, etc. for incidents they were involved in during the course of their employment with the city.
Why I chose this career: I joined the Tort Division of the New York City Corporation Counsel because I wanted a career that would allow me to receive hands on litigation experience while enabling me to help people and make a difference. I am not the type of person who can “sit behind a desk” so the fast paced nature of the Tort Division is a perfect match for me because I am constantly trying cases and making court appearances, meeting new people, learning, growing, and defending honest, hard working police officers, firefighters, teachers, sanitation workers.
The proudest moment of my career: The proudest moment of my career is when I won my first trial, which was a case where plaintiffs brought a lawsuit against the NYPD. The plaintiffs claimed that police officers negligently and maliciously executed a search warrant for their apartment. Our jurors disagreed and dismissed the plaintiffs’ case.
I celebrate my Irish heritage by: I attend various Irish events throughout the year. Most recently, I volunteered at the Irish Day of Action in the Rockaways with Noel Kilkenny, Consul General of Ireland, and the Irish Network. As a part of the Irish Day of Action, I joined several hundred Irish and Irish-Americans in a Meitheal and gutted homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Moreover, as a member of the Brehon Law Society, I attend various functions that support Ireland and Irish Americans, including a Sandy fundraiser, a “Three I’s” event at the American Irish Historical Society, and a gathering to watch the All-Ireland games. I attend Gaelic Mass on St. Patrick’s Day. Also, I frequently watch live Irish music and attend Irish music festivals, such as the Sandy Seisiuns and Hunter Mountain’s International Celtic Festival.
Biography
The daughter of a New York City Fire Lieutenant and Registered Nurse, Elizabeth Mary Connolly is a faithful Catholic, dedicated attorney, loyal friend, and loving granddaughter, daughter, sister and aunt. Elizabeth graduated the University of Scranton in 2005, pre-law, with a double major in Finance and Spanish. She was the only student to graduate from the Honors Program with a double major. Elizabeth graduated Albany Law School in 2008, cum laude, where she was the president of her class. Prior to graduating law school, Elizabeth interned with the District Attorney, a New York State Supreme Court Judge, and the New York City Corporation Counsel, and externed at an employment clinic. Elizabeth studied abroad in three continents, participates annually in the Tunnel to Towers run and the Five Boro Bike Tour, and is training for her first half marathon. Elizabeth is a member of the Brehon Law Society and Irish Network.