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Jeffrey Connelly

Partner

Best Lawyer badge 2022 Best Lawyer in Austin Badge

I grew up in a small town in rural northwest Georgia the son and grandson of practicing lawyers. Countless debates and spirited conversations took place at our family dinner table and while I may not have appreciated it when I was young, seeing first-hand how my family used the law to help community members in their time of need shaped who I am today. "As a third-generation trial lawyer, I bring diverse experiences and a unique perspective to complex legal issues. " I begin each case with amicable diplomacy and I understand that the litmus test of a great lawyer is their courtroom ability – no settlement, dismissal, or successful case resolution is possible unless the other side knows you are prepared to take a case to trial, and win it. With this understanding in mind, I have successfully tried cases to a jury in multiple states and helped individuals get justice.

I earned my B.A. in Philosophy from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in 2008 and my J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law in 2012, and I am licensed to practice law in Texas and Georgia. Upon graduating from law school, my goal was to get as much jury trial experience as quickly as possible. I began my legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Atlanta, where I was a member of the Complex Trial Division. There I gained substantial courtroom experience prosecuting hundreds of serious violent felony cases. In 2015, I transitioned to private practice and joined a prominent Atlanta firm representing plaintiffs in civil actions and focused more on civil litigation. After my wife, Angelica, and I had our second daughter, the pull to Angelica’s native Austin to be closer to family was strong. In the fall of 2017, I became a member of the Texas State Bar and accepted a position with a well-established Austin law firm.

Not long after moving to Austin, I met Rick Cofer and we co-counseled on many cases. We would often discuss our notions of the ideal law practice. "We wanted to create a modern law practice – a firm that was tech-forward, client-focused, and built on the premise that results come from thorough preparation and courtroom experience." In the spring of 2020, we turned those discussions into reality and co-founded Cofer & Connelly, PLLC. At Cofer & Connelly, I lead our civil litigation practice with a focus on Family Law and Personal Injury cases.

2022 Rated By SL For Jeffery Connelly

EDUCATION

  • Georgia State University College of Law, JD
  • Sewanee: The University of the South, BA with Honors (Philosophy and French)
    • IAU Aix-en-Provence, France School of Humanities

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & RECOGNITION

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Texas Bar College
  • Fellow of Texas Bar Foundation
  • Austin Bar Association
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
  • Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association
  • Austin Young Lawyers Association
  • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
  • State Bar of Georgia
  • American Bar Association
  • Selected to The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 in Civil Plaintiff 2020

PROFESSIONAL ADMISSIONS

  • Supreme Court of Texas
  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the North District of Georgia
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Partner, Cofer & Connelly, PLLC
  • Associate Attorney, Wynne & Wynne, Austin
  • Associate Attorney, Ikard Wynne, LLP
  • Associate Attorney, Terry D. Jackson Law
  • Assistant District Attorney, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

  • Member of the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of the Hill Country Conservancy
  • Governance Committee Chair, Violet Crown Trail Stewardship Counsel
  • Member, Hill Country Conservancy Violet Crown Trail Committee
  • Member, Shoal Creek Conversancy Headwaters Circle (2021-Present)

Committed to Excellence

  • Super Lawyer 2024
  • Texas Bar College
  • Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation - Jeffrey
  • AV Preeminent - Jeffrey
  • Justia - 10.0 Lawyer Rating - Jeffrey

Community

I am active in the Austin community and serve as the Governance Chair of the Violet Crown Trail Stewardship Council, a group of governmental and private partners tasked with creating and maintaining an approximately 30-mile multijurisdictional trail that will ultimately extend from Barton Springs in Austin south into Hays County.

I am also a board member of the Hill Country Conservancy Violet Crown Trail Committee. When not trying cases or working on environmental conservation, my family and I enjoy biking, hiking, paddling, and exploring beautiful wild places in Texas and beyond.

Client Reviews

  • "He was honest, hard-working, and dedicated to meeting all of my needs during this stressful time. I highly recommend him, and if I ever need a lawyer in the future, I will definitely call him back."
    J.A.
  • "He's by far someone I felt very good about having in the courtroom with me!"
    Abby
  • "He helped me through a difficult moment professionally and successfully. I would highly recommend him and his colleagues."
    Tom
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