Kelly J. Keegan
Kelly is the founding and managing attorney at Keegan Law Office, a private-practice criminal defense firm. She has been a practicing attorney since 2006 after graduating from the University of Minnesota Law School. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a lobbyist in the Minnesota State Legislature. In addition to criminal defense matters, Kelly frequently handles related matters such as criminal expungements, pardons, Department of Human Services background study disqualifications, restraining orders, and matters affecting the right to possess firearms. In addition to involvement with numerous other organizations, Kelly served for thirteen years on the board of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and was President from 2019-2020. She has been a featured speaker and taught at continuing legal education seminars in Minnesota and nationally.
Professional Achievements and Community Involvement
Honors and Awards
| Organization | Award | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Avvo | Client Reviews Award | 2016-current |
| Avvo | 10.0 Superb Rated Attorney | 2015-current |
| Super Lawyers | Top 50 Women Attorneys in Minnesota | 2023 |
| Super Lawyers | Super Lawyer | 2023 |
| Super Lawyers | Super Lawyer | 2022 |
| Super Lawyers | Super Lawyer | 2021 |
| Super Lawyers | Super Lawyer | 2020 |
| Super Lawyers | Super Lawyer | 2019 |
| Super Lawyers | Minnesota Rising Star | 2018 |
| Super Lawyers | Minnesota Rising Star | 2017 |
| Super Lawyers | Minnesota Rising Star | 2016 |
| Super Lawyers | Minnesota Rising Star | 2015 |
| Super Lawyers | Minnesota Rising Star | 2014 |
| Super Lawyers | Minnesota Rising Star | 2013 |
| Super Lawyers | Minnesota Rising Star | 2012 |
Memberships and Roles
| Organization | Role | Date |
|---|---|---|
| United States Conceal Carry Association | Member | 2023 |
| Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network | Member | 2023 |
| Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice | Member | 2019-Present |
| Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | President | 2019-2020 |
| Minnesota Foundation for Criminal Justice | Treasurer | 2018-current |
| Minnesota State Bar Association | Member | 2004-current |
| Hennepin County Bar Association | Member | 2004-2012, 2018-current |
| National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member | 2007-2022 |
| MACV Minneapolis Veterans StandDown | Volunteer | 2007-current |
| National Association of Women Lawyers | Member | 2006-current |
| Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Vice President | 2018-2019 |
| Anoka County Bar Association | Member | 2006-2018 |
| American Bar Association | Member | 2005-2009, 2016-2018 |
| Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Treasurer | 2017-2018 |
| Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Secretary | 2016-2017 |
| Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Legislative Committee Chair | 2009-2017 |
| Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Board Member | 2009-2021 |
| University of Minnesota Alumni Association | Member | 2000-2003, 2006-2014 |
| 21st District Ethics Committee | Ethics Investigator | 2008-2013 |
| Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member | 2007-current |
| Minnesota Women Lawyers | Member | 2005-2012 |
| University of Minnesota Law School, Misdemeanor Defense Clinic | Director | 2005-2006 |
| University of Minnesota Women Law Students Association | President | 2005-2006 |
| Minnesota State Bar Association Public Law Section | Executive Council Member | 2004-2005 |
| Minnesota Justice Foundation | Member | 2003-2004 |
Publications and Presentations
Publications
| Topic/Title | Publication | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Making Lives Easier | Minneapolis Lakes Magazine | 2020 |
| Women in the Law | Attorney At Law Magazine | 2018 |
| Profile on Katherian Roe, Federal Defender for the District of Minnesota | Federal Bar Talk Magazine | 2018 |
| Expungement’s Shades of Gray | Bench & Bar of Minnesota | 2016 |
| Finally, A Second Chance: Minnesota’s New Expungement Law | Minnesota Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers Challenger Magazine | 2014 |
Continuing Legal Education Presentations
| Topic/Title | Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Expunging Criminal Records and Federal Firearm Rights | LawPracticeCLE | 2019 |
| Elimination of Bias: Women Going Solo – Challenges and Opportunities | MinnCLE | 2019 |
| Gun Law: Acquiring, Handling & Transferring Firearms in Minnesota | MinnCLE | 2018 |
| Taking a Second Look at the Second Amendment | 2018 Minnesota State Bar Association Convention | 2018 |
| Expunging Criminal Records and Background Checks | Federal Bar Association and MyLawCLE | 2018 |
| DWI: What You Need to Know | Minnesota State Bar Association | 2018 |
| Ninth Judicial District Spring Training | Ninth District Public Defenders | 2018 |
| When Crime Doesn’t Get You Pay: What Criminal and Employment Lawyers Need to Know | MinnCLE | 2018 |
| Criminal Expungements | Hennepin County Public Defenders | 2017 |
| Gun Rights Restoration | Dakota County Law Librarians CLE Series | 2017 |
| Criminal Records and Federal Gun Rights | MyLawCLE, Orlando Florida | 2016 |
| Minnesota’s New Expungement Law | Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice | 2016 |
| The Evolution of Expungements | Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Duluth CLE | 2016 |
| Gun Rights Restoration | Gun Law, Minnesota CLE | 2016 |
| The New Expungement Law | Dakota County Bar Association | 2016 |
| The New Expungement Law: How It’s Working | The 50th Annual Criminal Justice Institute | 2015 |
| The New Expungement Law | Seventh Judicial District Law Clerks | 2015 |
| Firearms Prohibitions and the Restoration of Rights | Seven and Eighth Judicial District | 2015 |
| Criminal Records, Data Harvesters, and Expungement | MyLawCLE, Orlando Florida | 2015 |
| The Intersection of Expungement and Employment Law | Minnesota CLE | 2015 |
| Minnesota’s New Expungement Law | Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | 2015 |
| The New Expungement Law | Anoka County Bar Association | 2014 |
| Expungement reform legislation: House File 2576, Testimony | Minnesota State Senate Judiciary Committee | 2014 |
| The New Expungement Law: What Attorneys Need to Know | Minnesota State Bar Association | 2014 |
| Minnesota’s New Expungement Law | Minnesota Society For Criminal Justice (MSCJ) | 2014 |
| Minnesota’s New Expungement Law | Minnesota CLE Webinar | 2014 |
| Civil Landmines of Your Criminal Case: Collateral Consequences | Criminal Law Section, Minnesota State Bar Association | 2014 |
| When Crime Doesn’t Get You Pay: Employment, Criminal Records and Expungement | Criminal Law Section, Hennepin County Bar Association | 2014 |
| Gun Rights and Restoration | Tenth Judicial District Law Clerks CLE (Wright County) | 2014 |
| Panel Speakers Symposium on Expungement | William Mitchell Law School | 2013 |
| Firearms Rights and Restoration | Minnesota CLE Webinar | 2013 |
| Forfeiture reform legislation, Testimony | Minnesota House Of Representatives Civil Law Committee | 2013 |
| Firearms Rights and Restoration | The 48th Annual Criminal Justice Institute | 2013 |
| Expungement Case Law Update – New Appellate Court Decisions | The 47th Annual Criminal Justice Institute | 2012 |
| Expungement Case Law Update – New Appellate Court Decisions | 2012 Annual Meeting Of The Office Of The Public Defender Seventh Judicial District | 2012 |
| Expungement: Fashioning a Meaningful Remedy After State v. S.L.H. | The 46th Annual Criminal Justice Institute | 2011 |
| Expungement: Fashioning a Meaningful Remedy After State v. S.L.H. | Anoka County Bar Association | 2011 |
| Expungement | Thomson Reuters Corporate Campus | 2010 |
| Expungement: Fashioning a Meaningful Remedy After State v. S.L.H. | The 45th Annual Criminal Justice Institute | 2010 |
| Expungement law reform, Testimony | Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee | 2009 |
| Driving After Withdrawal – Collateral Consequences, Testimony | Minnesota House Of Representatives Public Safety Policy And Oversight Committee | 2009 |
| Expungement: Fashioning a Meaningful Remedy After State v S.L.H. | Criminal Law Section, Hennepin County Bar Association | 2009 |
| The Science and Forensics of the Intoxilyzer 5000EN | Alexandria MN, Minnesota Public Defender Roadshow | 2009 |
Radio and TV Appearances
| Topic/Title | Platform | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Firearm/Second Amendment Rights | Patriot Radio: What You Need to Know to Defend Your Home with a Firearm in Minnesota | 2020 |
| Expungement | “The District Court Show” Hosted by Judge Stephen Halsey and Judge Elizabeth Strand on Quad Cities Community Television | 2014 |
| Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers – Legislative Agenda | The Jack Rice Show on 950 AM Radio | 2013 |
| Expungement | “One And The Same” Hosted by Judge Gary Bastian and Judge Judith Tilsen on Ramsey County Suburban Cable Television | 2010 |
- JoshuaKelly has an incredibly strong reputation in the legal community for her hard work and ability to become an expert on important legal topics. She not only provides great representation for her clients, but many other attorneys, including myself, rely on her guidance and expertise on a variety of legal topics. In sum, she kicks butt!
Call Today for a Free Consult
When you want a criminal defense attorney you can trust to do the right thing by you, who will hold nothing back in fighting for your rights, and who has the targeted knowledge and experience needed to take on your case, contact Kelly Keegan and Keegan Law Office. Call our Minnesota defense law firm today at 612-584-3834 or contact us online to get started.