Four Questions with Erick Russell

Erick

Q1: How are you following your passions while living in Connecticut?

I’ve always been passionate about positively impacting my community. When determining where to attend law school and begin my career, I was committed to staying in Connecticut so I could contribute to communities like the one I grew up in.

Working at Pullman & Comley, I do finance and economic development work with municipalities, state agencies, the state and private developers in the state. It isn’t what I originally saw myself doing with my law degree, but it directly ties to my passion for helping the community. It gives me the opportunity see my work make a difference, such as seeing schools and community centers we helped finance be built.

The firm is a full-service practice with about ninety-five lawyers, but what really sets us apart is the culture. This speaks to the difference between Connecticut law practices and those in major cities like New York or Boston. My colleagues and I are friends outside of work and we genuinely enjoy spending time together — it makes my work life truly satisfying.

Q2: How are you working to impact Connecticut?

In addition to my legal career, I mentor young lawyers of color and LGBTQ+ lawyers. When I was in law school, I was mentored by attorneys through the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association, an association for black lawyers in Connecticut. I knew that after graduation I wanted to be involved with the organization and try to lend a hand to other young lawyers like the mentors who helped me. I’m also a founding member of the similar LGBTQ+ section of the Connecticut Bar Association. We have an increasingly diverse Bar in Connecticut, and I think it’s important that lawyers of different communities and backgrounds feel represented and supported in their practices.

Additionally, I currently serve as the Vice Chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party, as a member of the DNC, and as Vice Chair of the Eastern Region of the Association of State Democratic Committees. It’s an exciting time to be involved politically, and we need new energy and perspective to take part in this work. Amplifying new voices is important, especially now.

Q3: How would you describe your life in Connecticut?

It’s awesome. Currently, I live in New Haven just outside of downtown. My husband and I recently purchased a house with a yard and a little bit more room to spread out, but we’re only ten minutes away from being in the center of everything — it’s a great balance.

In the past, I’ve also gotten a taste of living right downtown where you can easily walk to a variety of great restaurants and bars. New Haven is so incredibly diverse in both its people and its food, which is out of this world. Some of our favorite spots are The Trinity Bar & Restaurant, Shell & Bones, and, of course, Modern Pizza. We love getting together with friends and bouncing around the city for drinks, seeing live music or theater, or meeting up for a bike ride or hike. New Haven has so much to offer and will always be home for me.

Q4: What drives you to make a difference in your state?

I grew up in a diverse New Haven community where my parents owned a small deli and worked hard to make ends meet. There weren’t always positive role models around to show that there were paths to success. Even after college and law school, I didn’t always see people who looked like me represented in the business community, legal field or political arena. I’m driven to empower underrepresented communities, to help be a voice for those who haven’t always been heard, and to do my part in building a place where everyone has the opportunity to grow and prosper.