Top best L Lawyers in ZIP 06103 | 802 available

William D. Catalina is a civil litigation attorney with a focus on professional liability and medical malpractice defense, as well as general liability matters. He handles cases at all stages of litigation, including case intake and assessment, managing discovery, preparing and arguing dispositive motions, and attendance at a variety of court hearings and court conferences. Attorney Catalina has also represented clients at trial.

When I represent a client in a business dispute, I find I am acting as an historian.  Like an historian, I interview eyewitnesses informally but also formally, such as through depositions and examination in court.  I also comb through documents, which now are not only paper but more commonly in electronic form.  Similar to an historian with a political bent or thesis to prove, I use advocacy skills to portray the facts in a light most favorable to my client.  I enjoy telling my client's story to a judge, arbitrator, mediator, or jury as a very creative process.. On a personal level, I have been married to the same wonderful wife for over 32 years and have two grown sons, whom I coached in Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball.  I play racquetball almost every day and am trying to get better in the frustrating game of golf.

Troy A. Bataille is a multi-purposed litigator focusing his practice in the areas of professional liability, employment, environmental, and commercial litigation.. Troy defends companies, directors and officers, executives, professional service providers, medical professionals, financial institutions, common-interest associations, non-profits, closely-held businesses, and boards of directors in a variety of negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, vexatious litigation, and similar professional service-based claims. He has also represented real estate agents and brokers in claims involving alleged errors and omissions; auto-dealers in claims involving unfair trade, psychologists in matters involving claims of malpractice and misdiagnosis; radiologists in claims involving misreading, and long-term care facilities and nursing homes and their staff in professional malpractice and health care-related actions.. Troy routinely defends employment practice liability (EPL) claims before both state and federal agencies, including the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Representative matters include allegations of wrongdoing, including claims of sexual misconduct, racial harassment, and corporate malfeasance; wage and hour matters; and actions involving the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigations, and the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act (CFEPA).. His environmental experience includes counseling manufacturers, chemical companies, cleaning and fueling companies, higher education institutions, and municipalities on state and federal regulatory compliance regarding an extensive range of environmental media and regulations, including hazardous waste; the Clean Water Act; Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans (SPCC); lead-based paint, underground storage tanks (USTs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and more. Troy also routinely handles environmental litigation, spill claims, and toxic exposure matters.. Troy was under the age of 30 when he received the 40 Under Forty award from the Hartford Business Journal and was the second-youngest to receive the honor that year. During law school, he was a law clerk for major international consumer-products corporation and clerked for the Majority Chief Counsel for the Connecticut House of Representatives. He also represented indigent clients for New Haven Legal Aid in the Housing Division of the New Haven Superior Court.

Seth is an attorney at Freed Marcroft in Hartford, CT. Seth has focused his entire career as an attorney on family law. To him, the most important part of his job is helping families move to the next chapter of their lives efficiently and with dignity while always acknowledging the importance of nurturing their children. Seth is also a father of two children.. Seth earned his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his J.D. from Western New England University School of Law. Seth is a member of the Hartford County, Connecticut and American Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Association, and has completed advanced training in collaborative divorce and mediation.. Seth is a frequent presenter on divorce and other family law issues at continuing legal education seminars.

Ryan A. O’Donnell is an associate in the Hartford office of Siegel, O’Connor, O’Donnell & Beck, P.C., where he represents public and private sector clients in labor and employment matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Mr. O’Donnell specializes in collective bargaining negotiations and labor relations law.

Nisha has provided representation to individuals in connection with contested and uncontested Dissolution of Marriage actions including causes of actions in family law cases relating to custody, child support, Post-Judgment Motions to Modify Orders in the Family Division of the Superior Court, Temporary Restraining Orders, and other family-related cases. In addition, she has:. •Effectively negotiated settlements including all aspects of family law proceedings and claims.. • Attended and conducted hearings.. •Independently managed cases and prepared scheduling orders in anticipation of trial.. • Argued motions.. •Prepared questions for depositions of lay and expert witnesses and took effective depositions.. •Utilized expert witnesses in complex cases involving parties with a high net worth value of assets.. •Consulted with clients, opposing counsel and the judiciary.. •Attended and prepared for Judicial Pretrial, status conferences, and Special Masters Pretrial.. •Attended relevant Continuing Legal Education seminars regularly.

Named “Attorney of the Year” by the CT Law Tribune in 2019 and a Distinguished Leader in 6 New England states, Dana is an Immigration attorney representing both business and individual clients with green card applications, H-1B visas, foreign investor visas (EB-5, E-2 and L-1 visas), naturalization/ citizenship, religious worker visas, as well as various other employment- and family-based immigration matters.. When war broke out in the Ukraine, Dana worked tirelessly to seek a “travel lane” for Ukrainians fleeing to the U.S. who have relatives here. Dana engaged in public advocacy efforts to place pressure on decision-makers to create a dedicated “parole” program similar to Canada’s, which is now a reality in the U.S. via the Uniting for Ukraine Parole Program. Dana addressed the CT Business and Industry Association (CBIA) as a speaker on the topic of Immigration as a solution to CT labor shortages and raised awareness about the benefits of welcoming Ukrainian refugees – and refugees in general - to the local job market.. In April 2022, Dana traveled to Mexico to assist Ukrainians in the Tijuana, Mexico refugee camp. She spent 3 days going back and forth through the U.S.-Mexico border representing refugees seeking humanitarian parole. She counseled and saw over 2,000 refugees be legally admitted in the U.S. While there, she basically lived in a refugee camp with many families, including babies and unaccompanied minors from Mariupol, and brought back with her to Connecticut three miracle cases of refugees who were able to enter only on their 3rd attempt with her help due to the difficulty of their cases. After returning from the Tijuana trip, Dana kickstarted a public service/ pro bono partnership between the Honorary Consulate of Romania to CT and the firm’s Immigration practice to match Ukrainian refugees to CT sponsors () that to date brought over 91 Ukrainian refugees to Connecticut by placing them with sponsors she identified.. In February 2023, Dana submitted oral and written testimony before the CT legislature on three different bills to advance economic opportunities for immigrants and their employers, including the creation of H-1B cap-exempt zones (enacted into law), reducing language barriers for the driver licensing test by introducing Romanian and Ukrainian among languages administered at the DMV (enacted into law) and reducing the cost of apostilles on documents to be used in foreign jurisdictions.. Dana regularly presents at Columbia, NYU, Quinnipiac University, UConn, Yale, etc, on the various types of visas and immigration strategies available to foreign students after graduation from their programs, with a focus on employment-based and entrepreneurship/investment-based immigration.  As a former international student herself, she enjoys mentoring new generations of international graduates through their journey to a US visa/ green card or citizenship, particularly in the O-1 and EB-1A categories for extraordinary ability.

My practice is dedicated to helping hardworking Connecticut employees who have been the victims of employer abuses in their workplace, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and unpaid wages or commissions. I make it my business to help employees protect their careers from employers who violate the law.. ---. Attorney Hayber is a passionate, creative and hard working advocate for employees. He has devoted his professional life to this calling and has represented employees in almost every occupation, including waiters and waitresses, automobile damage appraisers, custodians, truck drivers, teachers, assistant managers, and executive vice presidents.. He has a natural predisposition to represent the underdog. “I have always stood up for people in my life. In high school, I stood up to a coach who was bullying my teammates. I was suspended five days, but I couldn’t just sit there and let it go on without saying something.”. His clients provide inspiration as well. “One former client gave me a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King that he hung in his office cubicle during a period of harassment and retaliation. It reads, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’ Today, these words inspire my work.”. Attorney Hayber graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and the Connecticut Employment Lawyers Association. He represents employees in state and federal courts, before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Department of Labor. He and his clients have successfully advanced the legal rights of employees in such areas as gender discrimination, overtime claims, workplace harassment, disability discrimination, and more. He is well respected among other lawyers and most of his work is referred to him by other attorneys.

My practice includes patent prosecution, intellectual property licensing, U.S. government contracting, copyright and trademark enforecment as well as litigation. I formerly held executive and senior management positions with Northeast Utilities, ABB, and Combustion Engineering with responsibility for energy-related technology and research and development. I have more than 25 years experience in energy generation including nuclear power, fuel cells and fossil power; environment issues and energy conservation; electro-mechanical devices; manufacturing, welding and metal fabrication; research and development; and due diligence and portfolio management. I also hold patents for diagnostic and data acquisition systems. I successfully represented an entrepreneur through the patent prosecution process and through subsequent licensing negotiations with in-house counsel in the United States and Germany.  Participates in merger and acquisition work, entertainment law, business entity formation (e.g., tee-shirt companies) and medical device technologies.. Appointments:Adjunct Professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)Adjunct Professor, University of Hartford (College of Engineering, Technology and Architecture)Lecturer, Defense Research Institute (Nationally broadcast web seminar on trademark practice.). Specialties: LicensureU.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeU.S. District Court for the District of ConnecticutBar of the State of ConnecticutConnecticut Department of Consumer Protection – Licensed Professional Engineer. AssociationsSouth Asian Bar Association of Connecticut, Inc., memberLawyers Collaborative for Diversity MentorMember Connecticut Bar Association, LGBT Section, Animal Rights Section

Melanie Dykas possesses a unique perspective and skillset as she maintains an active law practice at Halloran & Sage LLP and works extensively on legislative and public policy issues related to the Connecticut General Assembly. Melanie is a member of the Firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. She represents financial institutions in foreclosure matters and in the defense of lender liability and unfair business claims as well as real estate litigation, mortgage resolution, fraud and tort related matters. She also has experience in the area of contracts, insurance, administrative and employment. Her public policy background includes identifying goals and developing strategic plans for private businesses and community organizations. She counsels clients regarding appropriation needs, state policy initiatives and interactions with the Connecticut State Legislature. Melanie received her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and her law degree from The University of Connecticut School of Law. She was a member of the University of Connecticut Moot Court Board and was a semi-finalist in the 2009 Alva P. Loiselle Moot Court Competition.

Management-side labor & employment counseling, consulting, and litigation in the CHRO, EEOC and Connecticut state and federal courts.

Licensed to practice in Connecticut, New York and U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

Kristi M. Gardner practices primarily in the firm’s professional liability practice area. She also handles a variety of other types of claims involving general liability and commercial liability. She routinely defends oral surgeons, dentists, physicians and other licensed professionals in civil actions and disciplinary proceedings.. Attorney Gardner has been responsible for handling cases at all stages in litigation, including case intake and assessment, managing written discovery, drafting and arguing pretrial motions, preparing witnesses for deposition, conducting depositions and attendance at a variety of court hearings and pretrial conferences. Her trial experience includes being second chair defending a real estate broker and its associated realtor in five-week jury trial assigned to the court’s complex litigation docket in Hartford that resulted in a defendants’ verdict. That was a multi -party case involving numerous claims against our clients including professional malpractice and violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade practices Act.. She also has significant experience in mediation both privately and through the Judicial Alternative Dispute Resolution program.

Jay Marshall Wolman has served as an advocate or neutral in hundreds of contested matters, appearing before state and federal courts and agencies in Connecticut, Massachusetts and throughout the United States. His experience includes commercial disputes, consumer class actions, and personal injury, including products liability. As a civil litigator, a substantial portion of Attorney Wolman’s practice has included representation of employers and employees in workplace matters, including discrimination on the bases of race, sex, pregnancy and disability, wage and hour disputes, occupational safety and health, wrongful termination, as well as review and negotiation of severance agreements and covenants not to compete.. Attorney Wolman was appointed to serve as Social Media Vice Chair for the Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Committee, as well as the Chair of the Technology Subcommittee of the Automobile Law Committee, both of the American Bar Association Section on Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice. He previously served as Vice Chair of the Dispute Resolution Committee of the ABA Young Lawyers’ Division and the Vice Chair of the ADR Committee of the DC Bar’s Litigation Section. He is also a member of the ABA Section on Labor & Employment Law.

James A. Alissi has 24 years of civil litigation experience. He is AV peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available rating.. Attorney Alissi has significant trial experience in both jury and non-jury matters. He represents insurance agents and brokers, attorneys, architects, real estate agents, and design professionals. He handles cases involving the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), the Connecticut Unfair Insurance Practices Act (CUIPA), The Connecticut Home Improvement Act and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. He litigates matters involving liquor liability (Dram Shop), motor vehicle/ motorcycle accidents involving wrongful death claims, construction defect, product liability, negligent security, municipal liability and transportation. Attorney Alissi has represented all three of Connecticut’s Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporations, individual parishes, parochial schools, Bishops, cemeteries and parish officials involving premises liability, defamation, subrogation, sexual abuse and employment matters. He is regularly involved in various means of alternative dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration.. Attorney Alissi is a 1989 graduate of Connecticut College where he was a four-year member of the Varsity Ice Hockey Team. He earned his law degree, cum laude, from the District of Columbia School of Law where he was a member of the Law Review. After graduation from law school he performed a one-year judicial clerkship as a research clerk for the Connecticut Superior Court. In that position he was responsible for drafting numerous opinions and memoranda for various judges statewide. He has also served as lead trial counsel, admitted pro hac vice, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts as well as in state court in Massachusetts and New York. He has appeared and argued before the Connecticut Appellate Court.. Attorney Alissi joined Neubert Pepe & Monteith in 2019 after operating Fontaine Alissi P.C., a firm that he co-founded in 2001, for 18 years. He is admitted to the Connecticut Bar and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. Attorney Alissi is also a member of the American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association and Hartford County Bar Association.. Community involvement includes coaching both youth hockey and high school hockey in West Hartford, CT for more than 15 years. Additionally, Attorney Alissi served on the West Hartford Youth Hockey Association, Board of Directors from 2003 to 2016. For the last three years he has volunteered as a coach for the Colby-Sawyer College Men’s Ice Hockey Team.

I've represented sureties and fidelity carriers in Connecticut and Massachusetts for approximately 30 years. I regularly assists sureties with performance and payment bond disputes and claims arising under probate and other commercial bonds, as well as in salvage and recovery matters. I litigate in state and federal courts, appellate courts, and arbitration forums, as well as represent sureties in mediations and informal negotiations.

I practice in the areas of insurance defense and insurance coverage and have thirty-five years of legal experience. My clients are insurance companies seeking legal services to address complex matters and high stakes litigation. Matters include construction defect, toxic tort, employment, and defense of institutional clients in sexual molestation cases.. In a multi-million-dollar construction defect case, I implemented a strategy of conducting limited discovery on behalf of my contractor client to set the stage for prevailing on a summary judgment motion. I successfully defended institutional clients including schools and municipalities in lawsuit alleging claims of sexual molestation. In my employment defense practice, I defend non-profit and other organizations in both administrative proceedings and in State and Federal Court.. I develop and implement creative and cost-effective strategies for my clients, defending companies and individuals in high stakes litigation. I direct a knowledgeable and confident team of attorneys and legal staff, all working toward the client’s end goal. I know that my clients want the best result performed cost-effectively and concluded as quickly as possible. I work diligently to obtain early, favorable resolution of her clients’ cases. However, when such an early resolution is not possible, I have a proven track record of successful verdicts.

I have a business and financial litigation practice with a focus on: employment law, commercial law, collection law, construction law, real estate, contracts, partnership and corporate law, federal and state tax controversies and litigation, trade secrets and trade regulation, unfair trade practices, administrative law, professional liability and lender liability.  Clients include: manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, real estate (developers, buyers, sellers, lenders), construction companies and subcontractors, and professionals.

I am a member of the firm’s commercial litigation group, practicing in a variety of areas. My focus is on commercial and residential foreclosures, with a significant emphasis on litigating contested foreclosures and resolving complicated title issues. I also have experience in matters concerning collections, insurance defense, and property rights. Additionally, I have background in handling mediations, and have been successful in bench trials.. I am admitted to practice in Connecticut and the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut.

During a career of more than thirty years, Beverly Knapp Anderson’s practice has been devoted exclusively to civil litigation at both the trial and appellate court levels. Attorney Anderson currently focuses primarily on the defense of professional liability and employment law claims. She represents employers in various professional liability claims, including discrimination, whistleblower and other types of retaliation claims, sexual harassment, hostile work environment, and wrongful termination, before federal and state administrative agencies and in court. Attorney Knapp Anderson also represents health care providers in the defense of medical malpractice claims, in disciplinary and licensing proceedings, and in audit claims.. Attorney Knapp Anderson has had significant experience defending dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons in dental malpractice actions and in disciplinary proceedings before the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. She also defends attorneys and real estate agents and brokers in professional liability claims and in licensing proceeding and represent insurance companies in insurance coverage disputes.. Attorney Knapp Anderson has a significant appellate practice, having briefed and argued before the Connecticut Appellate Court, Connecticut Supreme Court, and/or the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. At the trial court level, she regularly argues dispositive motions, including in medical and dental malpractice cases, and have been the first or second chair attorney in more than a dozen trials.

Dedicated to providing clients with comprehensive legal representation in criminal defense. He offers personalized and specialized attention for each and every case. With years of experience as a practicing attorney and substantial experience helping those charged with federal and state criminal offenses, you can trust his knowledge and effectiveness. When your freedom is at jeopardy, you don’t only need an experienced trial lawyer, you need a warrior and Attorney Jones provides both.

Daniel L. Gottfried is a tax partner at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP.. Dan's practice encompasses structuring, negotiating, and documenting business deals and investment transactions throughout the United States and around the world, including federal, state, and international tax planning, including corporate mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, partnerships and S corporations. Dan has particular experience with international tax planning and compliance, including extensive experience as counsel to taxpayers with respect to the recent IRS offshore initiative. Dan also has experience assisting clients with tax issues relating to intellectual property assets. Dan also assists clients in tax audits and appeals.. In addition to tax work, Dan represents a variety of business entities, particularly entrepreneurial businesses private investment funds, and family office investors, in general corporate matters, investment and financing transactions, private securities offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. Dan helped to establish VentureGeeks – Israel's first privately funded start-up accelerator.. Dan is an adjunct professor at The University of Connecticut School of Law. He serves in leadership on international tax, M&A, and joint venture committees for the American Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association. He has written many articles and spoken before many professional organizations.  Among others, Dan has been featured on National Public Radio, Standard Federal Tax Reports, Hartford Business Journal, and Tax Notes International.

Collin Udell’s appellate practice focuses on United States Supreme Court litigation and on complex or novel issues arising in other federal appeals. Collin has taken a central role in 32 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, some of which have been widely acknowledged as among the most important cases of the last few terms.In addition to her Supreme Court experience, Ms. Udell has also represented clients in a wide variety of cases in the federal courts of appeals, including matters involving statutory construction and labor and employment.. Ms. Udell also has significant clerkship experience, having clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for the Honorable Bruce M. Selya; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for the Honorable José A. Cabranes; and the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut for the Honorable Robert N. Chatigny. She has also taught criminal law at the University of Connecticut School of Law.. LinkedIn bio at Follow me on at

Bill Ronalter is a board certified civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.  His practice is devoted to representing individuals who have sustained substantial personal injuries and wrongful death cases. He has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury cases in various roles, including plaintiff’s attorney, defense attorney, and as a consultant for an insurance company. Bill managed cases throughout the country involving catastrophic injuries including death, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and burns. Bill has experience in the following types of cases: accidents involving motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians (including DUI cases), uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, defective products (including burns caused by defective lithium ion batteries in ecigarettes, laptops, and cell phones), premises liability, construction accidents,  drowning, dental and medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, sexual abuse, and wrongful arrest/imprisonment cases. He was involved in cases arising out of the 9/11 attacks and the Rhode Island Nightclub fire. He has served as an expert witness and testified regarding proper claim handling practices. Bill has also served as a guest lecturer (2009-2012) and an adjunct professor (2013-present) at the University of Connecticut School of Law, Trial Practice Class.  He also is a guest lecturer at Qunnipiac School of Law.  He also has taught numerous legal seminars for trial attorneys throughout the State of Connecticut.. Distinctions. Teaching Positions. Professional Affiliations

Before starting his own office, A. Paul Spinella practiced law with one of Connecticut's most prominent law firms where he was a partner in charge of litigation. During that time he represented many of the state's largest insurance companies before developing his present plaintiffs-based practice.. A particular area of Attorney Spinella's practice is the area of criminal trial and appellate practice. He is the author ofConnecticut Criminal Procedure, a 1,000-page textbook that examines the history, development, and existing state of the law of criminal procedure. First published in 1985, this text was the result of four years of labor—it has recently been supplemented two times and is presently undergoing additional revisions.. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Attorney Spinella is a litigator who has had enormous experience in the trenches-in the area of criminal defense he has a long history representing individuals accused of white collar and violent offenses during the pre-trial and trial stages of prosecution, as well as appeals of criminal convictions and post-conviction attacks by way of habeas corpus claims.. As a result of his zealous defense of the citizen accused, Attorney Spinella has developed a substantial practice prosecuting claims on behalf of citizens who have had their rights violated by law enforcement, municipalities, government agencies and officials, and powerful corporate interests. His practice also includes complex civil damage lawsuits involving claims of negligence such as professional malpractice and defective product claims, as well as personal injury lawsuits of all types, particularly wrongful death claims.. Attorney Spinella has lectured widely in the areas of plaintiffs' rights, police misconduct and civil rights, and criminal defense issues. In addition, he has participated in numerous professional organizations devoted to these and related areas. For example, he is a longtime member of the Connecticut Bar Association, where he served as a member of the House of Delegates. He is presently a member of the Executive Committee of the Civil Rights Section and has previously served as Chairman; during his tenure as Chairman he organized and chaired a highly regarded seminar that greatly influenced the development of state Constitutional jurisprudence. He has also served previously and presently on a number of other State Bar Committees such as the Executive Committee of the Criminal Justice Section and the Executive Committee of the Professional Responsibility Section. He is also a member of the Hartford Bar Association (where he presently serves on the Scholarship Fund) as well as a number of other state and national organizations devoted to civil and criminal trial practice such as the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (former chair of Lawyer's Assistance Task Force) and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Lifetime member). He is also active in the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.. Throughout his career, Attorney Spinella has experience in a wide range of plaintiffs' cases, particularly in the areas of individual rights as well as in cases involving the criminally accused. He feels strongly that there are two types of courtroom advocates —litigators and trial lawyers. A trial lawyer cares about results and will go to the mat to vindicate his client's rights because he believes in what he does and sees himself as a member of a profession with a great history; for a civil rights lawyer, the "business of law" always follows the need to advance the goals of a noble profession. Attorney Spinella is a trial lawyer.. He is a graduate of Trinity College and the University of Connecticut Law School where he served as an associate editor of the Law Review and as a member of the National Moot Court Team. Following law school he served an appointment as a law clerk to a Federal District Court judge.