Patrice A Cohan

Patrice Cohan made a difficult situation easy, she stated the facts and educated me on what I needed to know. Going through DCF I felt ‘in the dark’ ‘blindsided’ ‘tricked’ (I could continue)the point is that once Attourney Patrice Cohan was involved I felt supported/respected/ and validated as a huma...n being and mother. I can not say enough good things about her. I would be recommending her for the rest of my life! Patrice Cohan is smart and straightforward.

Patrice was given to me as a lawyer through children probate court here in new haven Connecticut. When I first met Patrice , I was told she was a very good attorney. I was so happy to hear this, I had a difficult case, wrong information, and was viewed badly with a lot of prejudice. To begin with, My... first phone call to Patrice I asked if she needed me to sign any papers so she can abtain information she may need in particular programs I was involved in.Patrice became angry and yelled into the phone to not tell her how to do her job. Family members happened to be in my home at that time and can hear her yelling threw the phone to the next room. I was taken back by this, very confused, but figured that she may be having a bad day or many cases, and being that she was given to me “free” by the court system and told how excellent she was, I said nothing and let it go. The next time I spoke with Patrice I told her that in a meeting a women told me of a parenting class that would be beneficial to my case, and that I should do this before my worker does because it showed good intention and progress. She advise that I was not to, and to let my worker get me started in the class. So I let her do that. I am mentioning this because later on, she put down the meetings I attended saying how they are useless and how she got me into that particular parenting class at the same family service I told her. She brought this to my attention trying to prove how she had helped me with court because for months we never discussed my case, I could not talk to her. I would go to court hoping to talk before I actually got before the judge but she would be no where to be found, until I went into court. Obviously then I could not talk or exchange information, we where in court. I also had a hard time trying to contact Patrice by phone. She always has the voice mail on no mater what, and will return your call within 48 hours. Problem is, she rings it a few times and if you miss it and call back right away , you get the voice mail again, and again you wait up to 48 hours for return call. This was very annoying. Even a program I was in contacted her threw e-mail suggesting a set up time for me to call where she can pick the phone up, but this to failed and they sent her a report on it. Patrice was furious about this. I did not tell the program to do that, but got yelled at for it. Family and friends explained to me a lawyer works for you, a lawyer should not yell or mistreat you, and a lawyer should know your story to defend your case. None of this took place, and wrong information got circulated around and around. When I had my first step in child probate, Patrice never rebuttal anything, asked no questions, I knew nothing of who would be on the stand or what information was circulating. It was the most horrible experience, I felt my trust was mislead, and to find out Patrice was actually good friends with the prosecution, was even worse. I found that to be conflict of interest and not legal. Afterwards, I was upset, I relayed why I was upset to Patrice and got hung up on , and no return call. Finally she put in a motion to no further defend me on the ground we don’t see eye to eye. In court, the judge asked if I had anything to add to this situation. I said yes, Patrice treated me unfairly and yelled all the time. The judge said “ I hear it is you who is doing the yelling” at this statement I turned to Patrice mortified!!! Patrice then stood up and said well your honor we both yell back and forth. Still I was upset, knowing she actually added to untrue facts that already existed. I got a different lawyer granted to me but wanted to do this review to try and warn someone eles. I really needed someone to defend me, to speak in court on my behalf, to at least hear my story and the facts and information I have. Patrice only listened to the prosecution . I was told if Patrice don’t like you, she will not defend you. I believe she should tell you this.