Tom understands the importance of being knowledgeable in the law and in command of the facts and issues of each case.
Tom’s passion for the law formed as a young child watching both his grandfather and uncle honorably serve their community as police officers. When his uncle left the police force to become an attorney, Tom knew that he wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Tom earned his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. By spending two years in the business world before law school, Tom developed the negotiation and communication skills required to successfully represent his clients.
Tom graduated summa cum laude from the Northern Illinois University College of Law, where he served as lead articles editor of the Law Review.
Tom earned scholarships for excellence in the study of civil procedure, evidence, trial advocacy, and ethics. Outside the classroom, Tom gained trial and appellate experience. He worked as a judicial extern for the Honorable Michael J. Burke of the Illinois Appellate Court and later honed his litigation skills by representing clients as a supervised senior law student in both criminal and civil proceedings.
Tom was raised on the northside of Chicago and now lives in the Tri-City area and is passionate about serving the community he lives and works in. Passionate enough so, that he was appointed Alderman of Batavia’s 4th Ward on October 18, 2021. Mr. Connelly will serve until April 2023, representing the best interests of the people of Batavia by proposing and voting on legislation concerning the city.
