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Catherine Holahan
Principal
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
catherine.holahan@educationcounsel.com
Cathy is of counsel for EducationCounsel LLC.
Cathy is of counsel for EducationCounsel LLC.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Previous Professional Experience
- Managing Attorney, Children-at-Risk Unit, Connecticut Legal Services, Inc., New Britain, Conn. (2008–2013)
- Led the Children-at-Risk unit, a statewide unit of 14 attorneys and one to two social workers who advocate through individual legal representation and systemic advocacy on behalf of low-income children to gain access to appropriate education, behavioral health, and child protection services
- Supervised the Educational Support Services Program for attorneys to provide individual legal advocacy for appropriate educational services for children and youth in the juvenile justice system referred by their juvenile probation officers
- Developed and supervised the Child & Youth Advocacy Team, a model child protection project that is staffed by lawyers and social workers to provide holistic legal representation to children in child protection proceedings in Bridgeport Juvenile Court
- Founded and supervised the Stop the School to Prison Pipeline Project (STOPP Project), which seeks to prevent students in Waterbury and New Haven, Conn., from being pushed out of school and into the juvenile justice system through exclusionary discipline, arrest, and other means of school “push-out.”
- Staff Attorney, Children-at-Risk Unit (2002–2008)
- Represented low-income children and parents in school meetings, administrative hearings, Superior Court for Juvenile Matters, the Connecticut State Appellate Court, the U.S. District Court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to gain access to educational and behavioral health services.
- Engaged in legislative and policy advocacy to address systemic issues
- Chair, Department of Children and Families (DCF) Transition Team (2011)
- Appointed by Commissioner Joette Katz to serve as Chair of the DCF Transition Team upon her nomination by Governor Dannel Malloy
- Teach For America, French teacher, Crestworth Middle School, Baton Rouge, LA (1994–1996)
Educational Activities
- University of Connecticut School of Law
- Public Interest Law Group, President (1998–1999)
Education
-
University of Connecticut School of Law,
JD,
with honors
(2001)
- Joseph F. Noonan Memorial Award for Outstanding Legal Scholarship & Public Service
- Hartford County Bar Association Scholarship Award
- Women’s Law Student Association Public Service Award
- Moot Court Board
- Notes and Comments Editor, Connecticut Law Review, Vol. 32
- University of Connecticut, School of Social Work, MSW, Major: Policy and Planning; Minor: Community Organization (2000)
- University of Vermont, BA, European Studies (1994)
Admissions
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
Clerkships
- Law Clerk, the Honorable Ellen Ash Peters, Chief Justice Retired, Connecticut Appellate Court (2001 - 2002)
Areas of Focus
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Previous Professional Experience
- Managing Attorney, Children-at-Risk Unit, Connecticut Legal Services, Inc., New Britain, Conn. (2008–2013)
- Led the Children-at-Risk unit, a statewide unit of 14 attorneys and one to two social workers who advocate through individual legal representation and systemic advocacy on behalf of low-income children to gain access to appropriate education, behavioral health, and child protection services
- Supervised the Educational Support Services Program for attorneys to provide individual legal advocacy for appropriate educational services for children and youth in the juvenile justice system referred by their juvenile probation officers
- Developed and supervised the Child & Youth Advocacy Team, a model child protection project that is staffed by lawyers and social workers to provide holistic legal representation to children in child protection proceedings in Bridgeport Juvenile Court
- Founded and supervised the Stop the School to Prison Pipeline Project (STOPP Project), which seeks to prevent students in Waterbury and New Haven, Conn., from being pushed out of school and into the juvenile justice system through exclusionary discipline, arrest, and other means of school “push-out.”
- Staff Attorney, Children-at-Risk Unit (2002–2008)
- Represented low-income children and parents in school meetings, administrative hearings, Superior Court for Juvenile Matters, the Connecticut State Appellate Court, the U.S. District Court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to gain access to educational and behavioral health services.
- Engaged in legislative and policy advocacy to address systemic issues
- Chair, Department of Children and Families (DCF) Transition Team (2011)
- Appointed by Commissioner Joette Katz to serve as Chair of the DCF Transition Team upon her nomination by Governor Dannel Malloy
- Teach For America, French teacher, Crestworth Middle School, Baton Rouge, LA (1994–1996)
Educational Activities
- University of Connecticut School of Law
- Public Interest Law Group, President (1998–1999)
Media
Professional Activities
- Selected as Leadership Fellow to participate in the Center for Legal Aid Education Leadership Institute (2006–2007)
- NARAL Pro–Choice Connecticut, Board of Directors, Board President (2005–2008)
- Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance, Steering Committee Member (2008–2013)
- State Advisory Council to the Department of Children and Families, Governor Appointee (2006–2010)
- Connecticut Bar Association, Member, Education and Federal Practice Sections (2002–present)
- UConn School of Law Alumni Association, Board of Directors (2006–2010)
- Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, Board of Directors (2005–2008)
Cathy is of counsel for EducationCounsel LLC.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Previous Professional Experience
- Managing Attorney, Children-at-Risk Unit, Connecticut Legal Services, Inc., New Britain, Conn. (2008–2013)
- Led the Children-at-Risk unit, a statewide unit of 14 attorneys and one to two social workers who advocate through individual legal representation and systemic advocacy on behalf of low-income children to gain access to appropriate education, behavioral health, and child protection services
- Supervised the Educational Support Services Program for attorneys to provide individual legal advocacy for appropriate educational services for children and youth in the juvenile justice system referred by their juvenile probation officers
- Developed and supervised the Child & Youth Advocacy Team, a model child protection project that is staffed by lawyers and social workers to provide holistic legal representation to children in child protection proceedings in Bridgeport Juvenile Court
- Founded and supervised the Stop the School to Prison Pipeline Project (STOPP Project), which seeks to prevent students in Waterbury and New Haven, Conn., from being pushed out of school and into the juvenile justice system through exclusionary discipline, arrest, and other means of school “push-out.”
- Staff Attorney, Children-at-Risk Unit (2002–2008)
- Represented low-income children and parents in school meetings, administrative hearings, Superior Court for Juvenile Matters, the Connecticut State Appellate Court, the U.S. District Court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to gain access to educational and behavioral health services.
- Engaged in legislative and policy advocacy to address systemic issues
- Chair, Department of Children and Families (DCF) Transition Team (2011)
- Appointed by Commissioner Joette Katz to serve as Chair of the DCF Transition Team upon her nomination by Governor Dannel Malloy
- Teach For America, French teacher, Crestworth Middle School, Baton Rouge, LA (1994–1996)
Educational Activities
- University of Connecticut School of Law
- Public Interest Law Group, President (1998–1999)
Education
-
University of Connecticut School of Law,
JD,
with honors
(2001)
- Joseph F. Noonan Memorial Award for Outstanding Legal Scholarship & Public Service
- Hartford County Bar Association Scholarship Award
- Women’s Law Student Association Public Service Award
- Moot Court Board
- Notes and Comments Editor, Connecticut Law Review, Vol. 32
- University of Connecticut, School of Social Work, MSW, Major: Policy and Planning; Minor: Community Organization (2000)
- University of Vermont, BA, European Studies (1994)
Admissions
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
Clerkships
- Law Clerk, The Honorable Ellen Ash Peters, Chief Justice Retired, Connecticut Appellate Court (2001 - 2002)
Areas of Focus
- Selected as Leadership Fellow to participate in the Center for Legal Aid Education Leadership Institute (2006–2007)
- NARAL Pro–Choice Connecticut, Board of Directors, Board President (2005–2008)
- Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance, Steering Committee Member (2008–2013)
- State Advisory Council to the Department of Children and Families, Governor Appointee (2006–2010)
- Connecticut Bar Association, Member, Education and Federal Practice Sections (2002–present)
- UConn School of Law Alumni Association, Board of Directors (2006–2010)
- Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, Board of Directors (2005–2008)
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