Fellows Spotlight
Hon. Beverly Hodgson (ret.)
Beverly Hodgson Mediator/Arbitrator
- Why did you choose the legal profession as a career?
Growing up in the 1960s, I believed that the best way to promote justice and fairness was to become a lawyer. After graduating from Yale Law School, my first role was as a civil rights attorney. At the time, career opportunities for women were still quite limited. I was initially steered toward teaching, which I did for a short period. However, after a couple of years, I realized that education was not the most effective avenue for creating social change or influencing policy. Law school seemed like the better path. At that time, women made up only 20% of Yale Law School’s student body.
- What do you enjoy most about being an attorney?
What I valued most about being a judge was the ability to ensure that justice was served. Many judges begin their careers as advocates, shaping legal arguments to benefit their clients. In contrast, judging requires an intellectual and moral commitment to the truth and the law itself, rather than to a particular side or advantage.
- What is the biggest challenge you have faced in the legal profession?
There is always pressure to conform to popular opinion. However, doing what is right often demands courage, especially when it conflicts with what is easy or widely accepted. A judge’s responsibility is not to please everyone but to interpret and apply the law based on the facts at hand.
- What do you like most about Connecticut?
I was raised in Rhode Island and only moved to Connecticut because I was admitted to Yale Law School. I have remained here ever since, first working as a trial lawyer in Bridgeport before transitioning to the bench. Later, I continued my career in mediation and arbitration.
- Please share any community service you have participated in and are most proud of.
During my time at Yale Law School, I was drawn to volunteer work with New Haven Legal Assistance through its clinic program. The organization continues to place students in various legal service roles. Under supervision, I wrote motions and represented clients in court, ensuring that those in need had access to justice. Over the years, I served on several boards, including the Connecticut Bar Association. After leaving the bench, I joined the board of New Haven Legal Assistance, eventually serving as president of the organization where I had once been a student volunteer. Advocating for equal access to justice for low-income individuals has been a lifelong commitment.
- Why is the Fellows Program special to you?
I dedicated significant time to the Connecticut Bar Foundation because of its dual role: funding legal services and fostering discussion on important legal issues. The Foundation not only provides financial support to legal aid programs but also serves as a leader in progressive legal thought. One initiative that began during my tenure on the board was the Fellows program, which aimed to engage and recognize individuals who shared a commitment to the Foundation’s mission. It started modestly but grew steadily, with fifty new Fellows joining each year. Over time, it has built a strong network of legal professionals dedicated to the Foundation’s work.
- Please share any favorite Fellows-related memory (an event, a fellow Fellow, etc.), or tell us about your favorite Fellows program/event/committee that you attended or worked on.
One of my most memorable experiences with the Fellows program was attending a reception for new members. The guest speaker was Charlayne Hunter-Gault, a journalist who integrated a university in the South. Her story was a powerful reminder of the resilience, determination, and courage that drive meaningful change.
- Do you have any thoughts about, or ideas or visions for, the future of the Fellows program?
I hope the Fellows will continue to expand their symposiums, legal education programs, and efforts to promote access to justice. The program also plays an important role in fundraising, helping to sustain the initiatives I’ve been involved with over the years.
