Shea E. Connelly

Shea Connelly is an Attorney at HHJ Trial Attorneys, bringing over 11 years of extensive trial experience to the firm. Shea has successfully handled dozens of jury trials involving complex legal issues and expert testimony, consistently delivering exceptional outcomes for his clients.

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Shea developed his strong advocacy skills early in his career, spending two-and-a-half years in law school clerking for esteemed appellate attorney Chuck Sevilla, widely recognized as one of California's best appellate lawyers. Shea graduated summa cum laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, ranked second in his class, and received numerous accolades, including the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in numerous subjects. He also served as Senior Editor for the Thomas Jefferson Law Review and was a recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Fellowship.

Before joining HHJ Trial Attorneys, Shea served as a Deputy Public Defender, where he notably became the first attorney in San Diego County to introduce expert testimony from Ken Jones, MD—the physician who first identified fetal alcohol syndrome—to present evidence of Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) during a jury trial. His innovative and strategic use of expert evidence resulted in a hung jury, ultimately leading to the dismissal of extremely serious charges against his client.

At HHJ Trial Attorneys, Shea continues to leverage his meticulous preparation, courtroom expertise, and strategic use of expert witnesses to achieve outstanding results for clients. Outside the office, Shea enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Carinna, and daughter, Lydia. An avid cook, Shea especially enjoys BBQ and perfecting his skills on the smoker, and golfing whenever he gets the chance.