Kathy Flaherty, Executive Director Kathy's first connection with CLRP was as a summer intern after her first year at Harvard Law School. Kathy served two terms on the CLRP Board of Directors, including one term as the Chair.
Kathy re-joined CLRP in 2014 as Associate Executive Director. In June 2015, she became Executive Director Kathy spent almost 15 years as a Staff Attorney at Statewide Legal Services of CT, Inc., the centralized intake hotline for all the Connecticut legal services programs, and two years at Connecticut Legal Services ... [ more ] | |
Kirk Lowry, Legal Director Kirk W. Lowry is the Legal Director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, a non-profit state-wide legal services organization that represents low-income people with mental health conditions in all Connecticut state-operated inpatient psychiatric facilities and in the community.
His practice focuses on patients' rights, civil rights, discharge to the most integrated setting, conservatorship defense, involuntary medication, informed consent and commitment issues ... [ more ] | |
Joanne Bilger, Paralegal Joanne Bilger has worked for CLRP as a Paralegal since its' inception in 1990. Prior to her CLRP employment, Joanne worked for a DMHAS outpatient mental health clinic and a private law firm, assisting with federal civil litigation in civil rights, labor and employment law.
Joanne has seen gradual, positive change in the way clients are treated. She has become adept at collaborating with a diverse range of mental health, legal and administrative personnel including public defenders, legislators, conservators, courts, DMHAS administration and clinical treatment teams ... [ more ] | |
Lisa Grandjean, Operations Coordinator Lisa Grandjean has worked for CLRP in various capacities since 1999.
Lisa was drawn to the work after years of legislative advocacy and education on behalf of various disadvantaged populations in Vermont, Washington, D.C., Argentina, Virginia and Connecticut. She has worked with young adults aging out of clinical settings in Southwest Virginia and at CLRP has served DMHAS clients in inpatient and community settings as an advocate, litigation paralegal and operations coordinator ... [ more ] | |
Karyl Lee Hall, of Counsel Karyl Lee Hall has been an attorney with the Connecticut Legal Rights Project since 2004.
She has recently transitioned to serving CLRP and its clients in an 'of counsel' position. Karyl Lee graduated from the University of Connecticut Law School ... [ more ] | |
Simone Lamont, Staff Attorney Simone joined CLRP in 2024. She initially represented patients in the Connecticut Valley Hospital on issues related to civil commitments, involuntary medications and conservatorships. She now primarily represents patients at Whiting Forensic Hospital on a variety of civil and individual rights issues... [ more ] | |
Rosemary Marino, Business Manager After many years working in Finance and Operations for the corporate world Rosemary began her nonprofit career in 1991 as a full charge bookkeeper for Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut.
In 1999 she joined Connecticut Legal Rights Project as the Business Manager handling all finance and human resource for the organization ... [ more ] | |
Chelsea Mastriano, Staff Attorney Chelsea Mastriano joined Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc. (CLRP) as a Staff Attorney in August 2024. She represents clients...
Prior to her work with CLRP, she worked in public service with the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. She always saw a need and advocated for change within communities regarding the treatment of individuals with mental health conditions. She has personal experience with mental health as someone living with obsessive compulsive disorder. Chelsea is a graduate of Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and Marist College. [ more ] | |
Annette Medero, Paralegal Annette joined Connecticut Legal Rights Project in October 2021 as a Paralegal Advocate. She is a life-long Hartford resident. Her parents migrated to the United States when she was nine years old. She attended Weaver High School and Hartford Public High School and graduated with honors in June 1988. She is a Trinity College alumnus and currently holds a degree in Education with a concentration in International Studies. She is the proud mother of two children who are currently attending college... [ more ] | |
Meghan Oates, Staff Attorney Meghan Oates joined Connecticut Legal Rights Project as a Staff Attorney in 2025. She assists and represents clients... [ more ] | |
Ella Sweet, Operations Assistant/Screener Ella Sweet joined CLRP in September of 2023 as a temporary worker and began her full-time position as the Operations Assistant / Screener in April 2024.
This is Ella's first time working in the legal and mental health field, previously working at a mixed income property management company, working as an ABA therapist, and ... [ more ] | |
Jess Thomas, Staff Attorney Jess Thomas joined Connecticut Legal Rights Project as a Staff Attorney in April 2025. [ more ] | |
Sally Zanger, Senior Staff Attorney Sally Zanger is a graduate of Brandeis University and the University of Michigan Law School. She was at CLRP at the beginning, many years ago, left to live in England, and returned to stay in 2006.
In addition to advocating on behalf of our clients with housing authorities, landlords, inpatient and outpatient treatment teams and clients' rights officers, she has had the pleasure of representing our clients in ... [ more ] |
Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc.
P.O. Box 351, Silver Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(877) 402-2299 - Toll Free
(860) 262-5030 - Outside CT
(860) 262-5035 - Fax
info@clrp.org
Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., (CLRP) is a statewide non-profit agency which provides legal services to low income individuals with mental health conditions, who reside in hospitals or the community, on matters related to their treatment, recovery, and civil rights. [12/2024]
all materials copyright ©2025
Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc.
