Ashleigh Backman
Attorney Ashleigh Backman (she/her) is the Connecticut Bar Foundation’s Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer where she supports the Foundation’s strategic direction and internally operationalizes its vision to advance civil justice for all, regardless of power or resources, to achieve a more just and equitable society.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Ashleigh spent over a decade leading pro bono programs and directing strategic partnerships where she built relationships with law firms, corporate legal departments, and access to justice initiatives to ensure families with low-income and veterans facing barriers to healthcare, housing, and income gain access to quality free legal representation.
Under her stewardship, these pro bono programs earned state and national recognition from CPBO Pro Bono Institute, Access to Justice Foundations, and Bar Associations.
Attorney Backman was named Connecticut’s Top 40 under 40, Connecticut Law Tribune’s 2020 Unsung Hero Award, and the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut’s 2024 Impactful Woman honoree. She is also a Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellow.
As a deep believer in legal aid and the power of pro bono legal representation, Ashleigh is a pro bono attorney representing asylum-seeker through the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI).
