Attorney Background
Attorney James J. Connolly established Connolly Law Offices, LLC as an independent law practice in 2000, after having
worked in larger firms since 1987. Connolly has represented hundreds of clients and has tried over 40 cases before juries.
Connolly graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelors degree in Economics in 1980. After
several years of working as an Internal Auditor for a southeastern Wisconsin retail bank-holding company, he attended the
John Marshall Law School in downtown Chicago, graduating in 1986. While at John Marshall, he completed a for-credit
internship with the Cook County Public Defender's Office, where he was assigned to assist a team of lawyers defending
clients in felony cases. During this internship, he helped prepare witnesses to testify in court hearings on motions to suppress
evidence and in trials, including cases involving charges of drug possession, sexual assault, and attempted murder.
Connolly has broad experience as a litigation and trial attorney, having represented defendants in civil personal injury and
property damage cases, seriously injured claimants in civil personal injury cases, and people accused of both misdemeanor
and felony crimes. Other experience includes simple estate planning and probate matters. He is licensed to practice law in
both Wisconsin and Illinois. He has been practicing law since 1987, has been certified by the National Board of Trial
Advocacy as a Civil Trial Specialist since 1999, and is a member of Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Experience has led Connolly to believe that the keys to effective and cost efficient representation of clients in litigation, whether
civil or criminal, are independent and thorough investigation, careful setting of realistic objectives, aggressive but intelligent use
of written discovery and motion practice, negotiating from a position of strength whenever possible, and open, clear, and
honest communication between attorney and client. He also believes that, once it becomes clear that a case will be tried
rather than settled, the attorney should strive to make sure that the client has a good understanding of the factual issues which
the jury will be deciding and must have a well-organized plan for managing the presentation of evidence at trial in a manner
calculated to be as favorably persuasive as reasonably possible.
Office Location
The office is located within the Pettibone Mansion, at 2051 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233, near the western
edge of the Marquette University campus. It is about 1.5 miles from the Milwaukee County Courthouse and about 2.5 miles
from the Federal Courthouse. The courthouses for Racine County, Kenosha County, Walworth County, Waukesha County,
Ozaukee County, and Washington County are all within about a one hour or less drive from the office. Free on-site visitor
parking is available.
Free Initial Meeting with Prospective Clients
When desired, Connolly makes himself available to meet with prospective clients at his office confidentially, free of charge, for
as long as it takes to assess whether entering into a representation agreement is mutually agreeable in a particular matter,
usually 30-60 minutes. Participation in such a meeting in order to discuss a case and possible representation does not
obligate anyone, since no representation is entered into unless terms, including fees, are agreed upon and then memorialized
in a written agreement signed by client and attorney.
Attorney James J. Connolly established Connolly Law Offices, LLC as an independent law practice in 2000, after having
worked in larger firms since 1987. Connolly has represented hundreds of clients and has tried over 40 cases before juries.
Connolly graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelors degree in Economics in 1980. After
several years of working as an Internal Auditor for a southeastern Wisconsin retail bank-holding company, he attended the
John Marshall Law School in downtown Chicago, graduating in 1986. While at John Marshall, he completed a for-credit
internship with the Cook County Public Defender's Office, where he was assigned to assist a team of lawyers defending
clients in felony cases. During this internship, he helped prepare witnesses to testify in court hearings on motions to suppress
evidence and in trials, including cases involving charges of drug possession, sexual assault, and attempted murder.
Connolly has broad experience as a litigation and trial attorney, having represented defendants in civil personal injury and
property damage cases, seriously injured claimants in civil personal injury cases, and people accused of both misdemeanor
and felony crimes. Other experience includes simple estate planning and probate matters. He is licensed to practice law in
both Wisconsin and Illinois. He has been practicing law since 1987, has been certified by the National Board of Trial
Advocacy as a Civil Trial Specialist since 1999, and is a member of Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Experience has led Connolly to believe that the keys to effective and cost efficient representation of clients in litigation, whether
civil or criminal, are independent and thorough investigation, careful setting of realistic objectives, aggressive but intelligent use
of written discovery and motion practice, negotiating from a position of strength whenever possible, and open, clear, and
honest communication between attorney and client. He also believes that, once it becomes clear that a case will be tried
rather than settled, the attorney should strive to make sure that the client has a good understanding of the factual issues which
the jury will be deciding and must have a well-organized plan for managing the presentation of evidence at trial in a manner
calculated to be as favorably persuasive as reasonably possible.
Office Location
The office is located within the Pettibone Mansion, at 2051 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233, near the western
edge of the Marquette University campus. It is about 1.5 miles from the Milwaukee County Courthouse and about 2.5 miles
from the Federal Courthouse. The courthouses for Racine County, Kenosha County, Walworth County, Waukesha County,
Ozaukee County, and Washington County are all within about a one hour or less drive from the office. Free on-site visitor
parking is available.
Free Initial Meeting with Prospective Clients
When desired, Connolly makes himself available to meet with prospective clients at his office confidentially, free of charge, for
as long as it takes to assess whether entering into a representation agreement is mutually agreeable in a particular matter,
usually 30-60 minutes. Participation in such a meeting in order to discuss a case and possible representation does not
obligate anyone, since no representation is entered into unless terms, including fees, are agreed upon and then memorialized
in a written agreement signed by client and attorney.
Overview
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