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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-current
Super Lawyers Super Lawyer 2019-current
Super Lawyers Rising Star 2012-2018

Memberships and Roles

Organization Role Date
United States Conceal Carry Association Member 2019-current
Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network Member 2020-current
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
Expungement Law Update MinnCLE 2023
DWI Expungements Minnesota Society For Criminal Justice (MSCJ) 2021
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
Burnsville Gunman Tried to Get Gun Rights Back Fox 9 News 2024
Mpls Police Falsely Identified Innocent Woman Minnesota Public Radio 2020
Lawyers Raise George Floyd’s History Associated Press 2020
What you Need to Know to Defend Your Home Patriot Radio 2020
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

Kelly 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!

- Joshua

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.