Flynn earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 1996 from Rutgers University and went on to get her law degree from Seton Hall Law School in 1999. Justice Jaynee LaVecchia selected Flynn to serve as her first law clerk after her appointment to the state Supreme Court. Following her clerkship, Flynn went on to work for law firm of DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole for 16 years. She was a partner at Gluck Walrath and Hill Wallack. Upon joining the Legislature, she started her own firm in Homdel.

Previously, she served on the Holmdel board of education from 2016 to 2021, serving her final four years as president; and on the Nutley board of education from 2011 to 2013, serving her final year as vice president.

Since 2018, she has served on the board of directors of the Holmdel Theater Company.

Flynn resides in Holmdel with her husband Mike Naughton and daughters Grace, Kate and Shannon.