Kelly graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2018, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She received her Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School in 2021, with a concentration in Public Interest Law. While at Southwestern Law School, Kelly was a member of the negotiation honors program where she honed her negotiating techniques and alternative dispute resolution skills in various negotiation competitions. However, Kelly was able to find her true passion in advocating for students as a participant in Southwestern’s Children’s Rights Legal Clinic. In the Clinic, Kelly helped to provide pro bono services to students who were eligible for special education. Outside of the classroom, Kelly externed at various law firms and organizations whose mission was to serve the public or fight for social justice. Kelly spent a summer working for Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center where she advocated against school districts for children with disabilities to receive assistance through special education. She also clerked for a Los Angeles family law Judge, where she was involved in assignments regarding free legal services to children living in poverty. Kelly’s passion for Special Education Law initially stemmed from her own experiences. Kelly’s first job was spent working at an educational summer camp for qualifying families of low income, the majority of which were individuals of racial minority groups and students with various disabilities. Kelly also has family members with special needs who have been a part of the special education system.