About Michael J
Michael J Connolly took an indirect route to law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Thomas More College and later returned to school for a J.D. from the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law. Those academic years shaped his approach to the law: practical, policy-minded and attentive to procedure.
He built a practice in Pennsylvania after law school. Early career details are not listed here, but over time he became active in state bar work. He is a current member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Exceptional Children’s Committee. That role places him in conversations about education policy, special education procedures and the intersection of law and school administration.
On the committee he participates in drafting recommendations, reviewing proposed rule changes and advising other attorneys on problems that arise in cases involving children with disabilities. Committee work is collaborative and often technical. It requires comfort with administrative hearings, federal and state education statutes, and the procedural tools families and schools use. Colleagues say the committee’s work can be detail-heavy and policy-driven; the record shows Connolly has been a steady contributor.
Connolly practices at Connolly, Jacobson, & John LLP. The firm listing ties him to a traditional civil practice environment where attorneys handle client representation and litigation. In that setting he engages in case preparation, pleadings and courtroom work. He has represented clients in hearings and negotiations, and he handles the written work that supports those efforts.
Clients and peers describe him as thorough. He spends time preparing administrative submissions and ensuring procedural compliance in cases that touch on education law and related civil matters. He is comfortable in both administrative forums and courtroom settings, switching between drafting motions and advocating in person.
Outside of casework, Connolly’s bar association activity keeps him connected to developments in education law and to other practitioners in the Commonwealth. The committee assignments allow him to follow changes in policy and to bring those updates back to clients and to his firm.
He lives and works in Pennsylvania and continues to take on matters at Connolly, Jacobson, & John LLP. His current practice involves representation and advisory work that includes issues related to education and children's legal concerns.
