Attorney Rachael Levine

Danbury High School graduate Rachael Levine aspired to a pharmacy career and ironically, an allergic reaction to an antibiotic forced her to take a medical leave from another Connecticut university and caused her to reevaluate her goals — ultimately leading her to Western Connecticut State University on the first step toward becoming an attorney.

“After starting college with a goal of becoming a pharmacist, many things shifted in my life and I decided to change gears to becoming an attorney, a recommendation I had been given numerous times throughout my adolescence,” Levine said. “I took it as a sign to change paths, transferred to WCSU in my fourth semester of undergraduate studies, and never looked back.”

Once enrolled in WCSU’s Division of Justice and Law Administration, Levine became active in the Justice and Law Club, ultimately becoming the club’s president for one semester. She also joined the International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi based on her academic performance.

As a student, Levine was inspired by JLA Professors Chuck Mullaney and Terrence Dwyer.  “They challenged me and held me accountable,” she explained. “I feel that the preparation I received at WCSU was equal to or better than fellow law students that attended larger or more prestigious universities. The challenges provided by the professors and adjuncts in the Justice & Law program made me strive to prove myself. A rumor that went around was that it was impossible to get an A in Mullaney’s class. I always liked a challenge and was only slightly disappointed when my final grade in Constitutional Law was an A-.”

When the time came to apply to law schools, Levine applied to UCONN Law School, Florida Coastal School of Law, Pace Law School and Roger Williams University School of Law. “I ultimately attended Roger Williams University School of Law after making it in off the waitlist,” she said. “I had already paid the deposit for Florida Coastal School of Law and was happy to give it up to remain close to my friends and family here in Connecticut.”

She obtained her Juris Doctor in 2013, and since then, Levine said she has developed a reputation as a child protection attorney in the state of Connecticut. “I first worked in the private sector before obtaining my dream job at the Attorney General’s Office in the Child Protection Department,” she said. “Once I started my family, I decided I wanted the freedom of controlling my schedule coupled with the ability to choose my clientele. I opened my own law firm in 2021 and have state contracts in two of the juvenile courts in Connecticut in addition to the private clients that hire me in various juvenile courts across the state. My niche is child protection and I believe in always having a focus on the children’s best interests, believing that every party to the litigation in juvenile court should share this focus.”

Levine added that while owning your own business is not for the faint of heart, the freedom she has obtained is incomparable. Even though she graduated a decade ago from WCSU, she continues to network and benefit from the connections she made. Most recently, she was able to serve as an adjunct instructor teaching Business Law.

Returning to the classroom has given Levine the opportunity to share both her legal knowledge and the benefit of hindsight with current students.

“Take advantage of the opportunities that WCSU provides with the relief of knowing that you won’t come out of college in massive student debt,” she said. “Don’t believe that being at a smaller state school could possibly prevent you from pursuing your law degree. Quite to the contrary, the support you receive at WCSU could actually be what sets you apart from the masses of applicants to law schools. From the quality of the classes to the encouragement from the faculty, WCSU will get you far.”

Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.