Shelley L. Graves has practiced law since 1994, all at Faulkner & Boyce. She became a partner of the firm in 2002. Graves is a true New London County native. She was raised in Norwich, and currently lives in Lebanon with her husband and their two sons.

She graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1986 and obtained both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Connecticut.
She has handled personal injury matters of all kinds, including those arising from motorcycle and car accidents, fall downs, improper sexual conduct, pharmacy prescription errors, product defects, dog bites and tragic incidents resulting in wrongful deaths. In one of her first major cases, she secured a 1.65 million dollar verdict for a youth who lost three fingers from an improperly activated wood splitter.

With Attorney Faulkner, Graves is the co-author of Connecticut Trial Evidence Notebook, published by Lexis Law Publishing. The book features an annual supplement that details new judicial decisions on the law of evidence. It is practical and easy to use and is highly regarded by lawyers and judges in Connecticut.

In the Fall of 2002, Graves was accepted into the Masters in Insurance Law program at her alma mater, the University of Connecticut Law School. The only program of its kind in the world, admission is highly selective. Graves distinguished herself in the program by receiving two CALI Excellence Awards.

Since 2003, Graves has held an elected seat on the Board of Governors of the Connecticut Trial Lawyer’s Association, an organization dedicated to the rights of injured persons within the civil justice system. She is also an active member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the American Association of Justice. Graves’ compassion extends to helping animals, she has worked closely with non-profit rescue organizations, like Kitty Harbor, Inc. of Griswold, providing both pro bono legal assistance and hands-on volunteer work.

Most recently, Graves was nominated and selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for her practice in personal injury litigation. Best Lawyers has been regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States.

The selection process for being listed in The Best Lawyers in America is detailed at the following web address: http://www.bestlawyers.com/aboutus/selectionprocess.aspx