received her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut as an honors scholar in 1979 and her Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Connecticut in 1982. Her practice includes property law, closings, personal injury, collections, foreclosures, and evictions.
Ms. Francois’ real estate practice includes a focus on natural and working lands preservation. She has represented landowners, land trusts and municipalities in land protection transactions, conservation restriction (easement) donations, bargain sales and purchases, and open space initiatives throughout Connecticut. She has been a presenter on the issues of land preservation and conservation transactions for the National Land Trust Alliance, Green Valley Institute, Yale Forestry School, Connecticut Farm Bureau, and Teikyo Post University, among others.
Ms. Francois is a 2003 recipient of the Secretary of State’s Public Service Award, the 2005 Bethany Citizen of the Year Award and 1998 Bethany Conservationist of the Year Award. In 2008 she received the Farmland Preservation Pathfinder Award from the Working Lands Alliance and the Connecticut Board of Trustees of the Eastern States Exposition. For over ten years, she has been a director and president of the Bethany Land Trust, Inc., and a director and officer of the Bethany Horsemen, Inc. riding organization. She is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the New Haven County Bar Association.