Who is Welsh Law VT?
Kathleen (Kelly) R. Welsh, Esq.
When she became a parent of three, Kelly was privileged to be a stay-at-home mom until her kids were all in elementary school. During those years, her young family moved to Vermont, and Kelly dove into her new community, serving as a board member at her children’s preschool, as Moderator of her church, and was elected to a term as a Director for the Springfield, VT School Board.
Once her kids were settled into a school routine, Kelly completed her Vermont law clerkship with Ellis, Boxer & Blake (now Boxer, Blake & Moore) in Springfield, and started her own practice from a home office in Reading, Vermont. She handled cases for the Vermont Defender General, representing clients who couldn’t afford legal representation in cases where their liberty was at stake, and represented clients in civil matters including employment disputes and complex real estate transactions.
She briefly worked as a Deputy State’s Attorney in Windsor County, VT and was exposed to a different perspective on criminal justice and developed an interest in restorative justice. Moving back to the civil side full time, she worked for several years for a plaintiffs’ firm in Woodstock, VT. In all of these capacities, she worked hard, learned a lot, and pursued her clients’ interests to the very best of her abilities.
In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, Kelly wondered whether she might do more good in the world as a classroom teacher, where she could help young people to develop the critical thinking skills so desperately needed in our complex world. In 2007, she entered an intensive year-long teacher training program offered by Upper Valley Educators Institute, and a year later she was teaching World History in her own classroom at Thetford Academy in beautiful Thetford, VT. She also taught Psychology, English, and US History, and spent 11 years deeply engrossed in work that was a labor of love every day.
But after having taught about the genocides of the 20th century 45 times, Kelly was ready for a change, and decided to draw on her interests and experience and recommit to the practice of law to serve the community she loves. After eight years of litigation experience in a variety of settings, raising her children and a teaching career, she is finally building the law practice she dreamed of as an idealistic law student.
Please note: We adhere to social distancing measures for the safety of all our clients.
Work Experience
Sole
Practitioner, Law Offices of Kathleen R. Welsh,
PLLC, May 2020 – current
Teacher, Thetford Academy, August 2008 – June 2019.
Deputy State’s Attorney, Windsor County VT, December 2003-April 2004. Handled busy caseload, collaborated with colleagues, learned basics of prosecutorial work.
Sole Practitioner, December 2001- December 2003. Criminal defense and juvenile work, Assigned Counsel Contractor with Vermont Defender General, September 2002 – December 2003 in Windham County, and Windsor County; represented non-profit corporations and handled contract negotiations and employment disputes, represented individuals in matters related to elder law and real estate.
Law Clerk, Kiel, Ellis & Boxer, Springfield VT, September 2000 – March 2001. Completed required clerkship for admission to Vermont bar with law firm focusing on workers compensation defense and employment law.
Litigation Associate, Conrad O’Brien Gellman DeStefano & Rohn, Philadelphia PA, March 1990 – May 1992. Practice focused on product liability defense, medical malpractice defense, white collar crime defense, contract law.
Litigation Associate, Morgan Lewis, Philadelphia PA, Sept. 1989 – March 1990. After two year full-time clerkship with the firm while I worked my way through law school at night, I was hired to join the firm’s litigation section, focusing on environmental law, business disputes, product liability defense, and pro bono criminal defense.
Education
Teaching Certificate, Upper Valley Educators Institute, Lebanon, NH 2008. Certified to teach middle school and high school social studies and English.
Juris Doctorate, Rutgers University School of Law, Camden, NJ 1989. Winner of Stratton Moot Court Competition, Awarded “Most Promising Civil Litigator” at Commencement, National Moot Court Semifinalist, American Jurisprudence Awards in Torts, and Advanced Civil Procedure. Dean’s List each year.
Bachelor of Arts, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 1982. Psychology major, Senior Class Vice-President, Junior Class Vice-President, History research assistant.
Diploma, Willingboro High School, Willingboro, NJ 1978. Student Government President, Varsity Field Hockey, All State Choir, Choir President, Newspaper, Drama.
What past clients have to say
I’ve know Kelly Welsh for twenty five years, watching her raise her kids, and at the same time, shine in her work as a top notch high school teacher, and as high powered attorney. She has always impressed me with her intelligence, her compassion and her work ethic, always mastering the tasks before her, and finding time to be supportive and a good friend to those around her. I can’t imagine anything that Kelly can’t do, setting a new bar of excellence for how well the thing could be done, and somehow making everyone involved feel better in the process. Such a gift. People who work with Kelly are lucky indeed.