Full Time Faculty

Deirdre Kelly

Assistant Dean for Career Development, Civil/Judicial Externship Director

Dekelly@wsulaw.edu

DEGREES

JD, Loyola Law School
BA, International Relations, USC

BIOGRAPHY

Deirdre Kelly is the Assistant Dean for Career Development and a professor at Western State College of Law, bringing nearly 30 years of diverse legal experience and leadership to her role.

Deirdre began her legal journey as a law student conducting more than two dozen juvenile trials with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. After earning her J.D., she joined the prestigious firm Jones Day, then transitioned into in-house counsel as Vice President and Legal Counsel for American Savings Bank in Irvine, where she helped resolve complex legacy issues from the Savings and Loan crisis. She later practiced trial litigation at Kindel & Anderson and focused on real estate litigation with Paul Hastings.

Her career eventually led her to legal education, where she continues to share her breadth of experience with students, helping them prepare for meaningful careers in law.

Deirdre has held numerous leadership roles in the Orange County legal community. She served as President of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) in 2019, and is a former Chair of both the OCBA Judiciary Committee and the Law School Task Force. Her active involvement extends to the OCBA’s Diversity, Mommy Esq., and Pro Bono Committees. She also serves on the OCBA Charitable Fund Board and the Public Law Center’s Dinner Committee.

Deirdre is a Past President of the Orange County Women Lawyers Association and an engaged member of several local legal organizations, including the Celtic Bar Association, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law, and the William Gray Legion Lex Inn of Court.

Her work has earned her recognition from the broader community, including a nomination for the Orange County Business Journal’s Women in Business Award and Congressman Lou Correa’s Women of Distinction Award.

With a deep commitment to mentorship, inclusion, and excellence in the legal profession, Deirdre continues to be a guiding force for students and colleagues alike.