Learn About Our Attorneys

Felice Duffy, Paul Thomas, Justin T. Smith

Felice Duffy served as an Assistant United States Attorney for ten years after beginning her legal career at two prestigious firms (one in CT and one in NY) and then clerking for two federal judges. As an undergraduate, she brought a legal action under the then-new Title IX statute against UCONN to compel the creation of its women’s varsity soccer program. She went on to become a first-team Division I All-American, was selected to be on the first U.S. National Women’s Team, and spent 10 years as Head Coach of the Yale women's soccer team (while at the same time earning her Ph.D. in Education/Sports Psychology).

Paul Thomas served for 18 years as an Assistant Federal Defender representing individuals charged with serious crimes throughout Connecticut. Prior to his appointment to the Federal Defender's Office, he spent two years clerking for a federal judge and 14 years as an associate and then partner in a top Connecticut firm. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a recipient of the Champion of Liberty Award from the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Since 1996, Attorney Thomas has served on the Faculty of the Yale School of Medicine where he lectures on the topic of Law and Psychiatry.

Justin Smith has 21 years of experience vigilantly defending the rights of the accused, having spent seven years as Criminal Defense Investigator both in private practice and in the Washington State Federal Defender's Office, and 14 years here in Connecticut as a Criminal Defense Lawyer. He has extensive experience in both State and Federal criminal courts including trying several cases all the way through to jury verdict. From analyzing crime scene and forensic evidence to evaluating police reports to constructing creative legal defense theories, he brings to every case and client, regardless of the charges, the rigorous attention to detail he honed as an Investigator.