Partner
Licensed in Massachusetts & New Hampshire
Patricia LaFrance was a felony prosecutor from 2001-2017 and has transferred her extensive trial and advocacy skills developed over 16 years of working with victims of violent crimes into zealous client advocacy as a civil litigator. From 2013-2014, she served as the elected Hillsborough County Attorney. She has handled hundreds of cases and conducted dozens of jury trials, including expert depositions and direct examination in the fields of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, tool mark, drug analysis, fingerprint, computer forensics, serious bodily injury including broken bones and head trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Notable cases include convictions for Negligent Homicide, Attempted Murder, Kidnapping, First Degree Assault of an Infant, and Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault.
Attorney LaFrance is also a highly sought after speaker and trainer. She has provided dozens of trainings for local police departments, and taught a supervisory class at Police Standards and Trainings from 2011-2015. Attorney LaFrance has been a panelist in conferences dealing with Domestic Violence, Child Sexual Abuse and Human Trafficking. She has appeared in round table discussions with national political figures Gabby Giffords and Jeb Bush on issues of gun safety and domestic violence; in addition to television, radio and video appearances on the topics of Child Sexual Abuse, Animal Abuse, Human Trafficking and Constitutional Rights for Victims of Crime. She was a core member of the 2014 training team to implement the new Domestic Violence law throughout the State and from 2014-2018 was an adjunct professor at Nashua Community College, teaching Criminal Procedure and Criminal Law. She has also appeared numerous times in front of the New Hampshire Legislature to testify on bills dealing with Domestic and Sexual Violence and protection for victims of crime..
Areas of Practice
Divorce and Family Law
Disability Rights / Civil Rights / Special Education
Personal Injury with a focus on Domestic and Sexual Violence survivors / Wrongful Death
Domestic Violence / Restraining Orders / Termination of Parental Rights
Criminal Defense: White Collar and Controlled Substance
Training: Criminal Law / Title IX
Bar Admissions
New Hampshire 2001
US District Court (1st District NH) 2001
Committees and Volunteer Work
NH Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee (2014-Present)
Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee (2013-Present, Current Chair of Committee)
Attorney General's Commission to Combat Human Trafficking / Workgroup (2013-2017)
Granite State Children's Alliance, Board of Directors (2009-2016) Vice President
Granite State Coalition for Common Sense – Advisory Committee (2015-2016)
Hollis Recreation Department – basketball, baseball coach (2012-2014)
Court Appointed Special Advocates (1995-1998)
Pro Bono Attorney Referral Program / DOVE Attorney (Jan 2018-Present)
Honors and Awards
- 2015 - Inducted into NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Hall of Fame
- 2014 - County Attorney of the Year
Professional Associations and Memberships
New Hampshire Bar
New Hampshire Bar Association
Massachusetts Bar