Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

Patricia Brannan's practice involves a wide range of litigation matters, including representation of clients in arbitrations, and bench and jury trials in federal and state courts. She also has argued before state and federal appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and has provided congressional testimony. The primary focus of Patricia's practice has been the representation of educational institutions in litigation. In 2004 she became the partner in charge of the firm's Community Services Department.

Patricia has spoken widely on civil rights-related issues and served as a reviewing editor of a leading national education law publication. She has been honored by organizations such as the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. and the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith for her contribution to enforcement of the civil rights laws. She is a former Chair of the board on Professional Responsibility for the District of Columbia, and has taught Professional Responsibility at the George Washington University School of Law.

After graduating from law school, Patricia clerked for The Honorable John M. Ferren on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for one year before joining the firm as an associate in 1980. She was elected to the partnership in 1987 and served as the Director of the firm’s education practice for nine years. The firm's Community Services Department, which Patricia now heads, is devoted exclusively to providing pro bono legal services. 

Areas of Practice

• Education
• Litigation
• Pro Bono
• Voting Rights and Election Litigation

Bar Admissions

• District of Columbia, 1980
• Maryland, 1996
• U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Associations and Memberships

• The District of Columbia Bar (Member)
• District of Columbia Women's Bar Association (Member)
• WETA Television and FM, Member, Board of Trustees, 1988 - Present
• West's Education Law Reporter, Member, Board of Editors, 1989 - Present
• D.C. Bd. on Professional Responsibility, Hearing Comm. Chair, 1989 - Present
• Disciplinary System Study Committee, District of Columbia Bar (Member)

Honors and Awards

• Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Past Employment Positions

• Honorable John M. Ferren, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Clerk, 1979 - 1980

Education

• Harvard University Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1979
  J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
  Honors: cum laude
  Honors: Alpha Sigma Nu
• Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1975
  B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  Honors: summa cum laude
  Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Published Works

• Critical Details, Amending the United States Constitution (Co-Author) 16 Harv. J. on Legis. 763, 1979

Address

555 Thirteenth Street, NorthWest
Washington, DC 20004

Phones

(202) 637-8686

Faxes

(202) 637-5910

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.hhlaw.com