Lehigh University's College of Education

Spring 2009

MICHAEL J. CONNOLLY , ESQ. is a partner and founding member of Connolly, Jacobson & John, LLP, where he represents parents of students with special needs across the state in a variety of matters. He also lectures throughout the state to parents, educators, and attorneys on special education and other education law related topics. Throughout his legal career, Mr. Connolly has been an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Legal Services for Exceptional Children Committee, where he served as Vice Chair from 2002 through 2003 and as Chair from 2003 through 2006. In his roles as Vice Chair and Chair, he played an active part in helping to shape the Bar Association’s position on legal issues impacting students with disabilities as well as planning one of the Commonwealth’s preeminent legal conferences in the area of special education. Mr. Connolly began his career in education law upon graduation from law school as an associate with a District of Columbia law firm representing parents in special education matters. He later became a partner in a law firm located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania where he spent nearly a decade representing school districts throughout state.

Mr. Connolly is a native of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Wilson Sr. High School in West Lawn, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Thomas Moore College with a B.A. in Political Science, and received his J.D. cum laude from The District of Columbia School of Law. Mr. Connolly continues to be an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and its Legal Services for Exceptional Children’s Committee.