Firm Profile

After almost 20 years of practice with the law firm of Brown, Paindiris & Scott, LLP (formerly Brown, Paindiris & Zarella) of Hartford and Glastonbury, Steven W. Varney formed The Law Offices of Steven W. Varney, LLC in Rocky Hill, Connecticut in January 2005. The firm limits its practice by choice to court cases, specifically criminal defense, child protection law, and other litigation and appeals undertaken on a case-by-case basis. Most of our work is by referral from clients (new and old) and other attorneys and professionals. A substantial portion of the firm's practice is in the area of child protection law, where we provide aggressive representation for clients involved with Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigations, hearings and appeals.

We encourage all prospective clients in this area of the law to contact us IMMEDIATELY when they first become involved with DCF in order that we can best protect their legal rights. No one is required to cooperate with DCF, as the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Connecticut Constitution protect the rights of every individual when it comes to speaking with government officials in a manner that might tend to incriminate you. However, the failure to cooperate with DCF can and often is used against parents in the course of child abuse/neglect investigations. As a result, the earlier our office becomes involved in a DCF investigation or case, the more effective we usually can be in helping parents in these circumstances. No parent is perfect, and DCF has a very difficult job trying to balance the best interests of children with the rights of parents. We limit our practice to assisting parents. That is not to say that we will represent any parent who comes to us with a DCF problem. We are sensitive to the special needs and vulnerabilities of children, and we do not represent individuals that we believe are either abusive or intentionally neglectful of their children. However, every parent at one time or another is not perfect, and that is where we come in.

Although the firm limits its practice to the areas mentioned, we welcome inquiries from new and existing clients concerning the need for legal representation in any matter. When necessary, we are pleased to assist our clients by referring them to other attorneys with the necessary expertise to effectively represent them in working through their particular case, whether it be a real estate matter, estate planning, divorce, or any other legal situation requiring particularized skill outside our chosen areas of practice.