A longtime state employee is taking the steps to update her registration as a lawyer practicing in Connecticut, according to a spokesman for State Treasurer Denise Nappier who recently hired the woman for a six-figure job, after a decade of not being in good standing with the agency that regulates attorneys.
Elizabeth Rowe, an attorney at the Statewide Grievance Committee, the agency that regulates the practice of law in Connecticut, said Laura Jordan has not been properly registered with the state since April 3, 2002.
“She’s not in good standing,” said Rowe.
“Laura Jordan is employed in the Office of the State Treasurer as a policy analyst, not a practicing attorney; the fact that she is not registered is irrelevant to her job responsibilities at the Treasury,” Nappier said in a statement. “Laura’s registration with the Statewide Grievance Committee is not up to date. She apologizes for this error and any confusion it has caused; Laura has contacted the committee and is working to resolve the issue expeditiously.”
Jordan has worked in numerous legal positions at the legislature, according to the Office of Legislative Management, including:
- Chief counsel to the speaker, House Democrats
- Chief counsel to the majority leader, House Democrats
- Deputy counsel, House Democrats
- Associate legislative attorney, Office of Legislative Research
- Legislative attorney, Office of Legislative Research
Through Nappier’s spokesman, Jordan declined to comment.
Jordan worked as special counsel to former House Speaker Chris Donovan, D-Meriden, prior to taking the job as executive assistant for policy with Nappier’s office, a move first reported by the Courant’s Jon Lender.
Jordan was tangentially involved in the federal investigation that led to the arrest of two staffers on Donovan’s campaign for Congress, including a former boyfriend of hers, for trading legislative favors for campaign donations. She declined to participate in the internal investigation by an attorney hired by the campaign.
The grievance committee has suspended Jordan’s license to practice law three times for failing to pay a $110 fee. The first suspension was from June 16, 2009, until July 14, 2010. The second suspension overlapped the first, from June 1, 2010 to July 14, 2010, when she paid both fees.
During at least part of this time, Jordan worked as vice president of patient care regulation and general counsel at the Connecticut Hospital Association.
A spokeswoman for the association declined to comment on Jordan’s status as an attorney during her employment.
Most recently, Jordan was suspended from May 8 to Aug. 6 last year while she was employed as Donovan’s special counsel. Her suspension began a day before the legislative session ended.
Jordan is registered to practice law under her maiden name, Laura Jane Hanten.