Anita Kelley Law represents clients in employment law, family law, personal injury cases, and more!

Anita is passionate about helping clients in employment law, family law, personal injury and other cases.

She believes that all workers are entitled to a safe, healthy work environment, that consumers and injured clients have rights and that divorce is NOT a dirty word. She will help you find freedom from a toxic situation whether it’s in the workplace or at home, and she will fight for your rights no matter what legal matter you’re involved in.

From working in Big Law to helping the little gal or guy

Anita spent the first six years of her legal career working as a defense attorney at prominent law firms, including the Albuquerque office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, an AmLaw 200 firm that represents big businesses and insurance companies. While she appreciated the opportunity and learned a lot, she decided she would like helping plaintiffs, employees and everyday people better, so in 2012 she quit being an associate and became a solo lawyer when she opened the Law Office of Anita M. Kelley, where she can fight for YOU!

Anita knows how defense firms operate and can anticipate their plan of attack in litigation. She has knowledge and experience in the courtroom and otherwise representing clients in various hearings, mediations, arbitrations and motion practice.

Fighting for your Rights in the Workplace

Anita grew up in a working class small town in south central Pennsylvania. As a first generation college student, she put herself through school by working multiple jobs and became the first person in her family’s history to earn a bachelor’s degree. Since Anita has been everything from a waitress to a call center operator to a convenience store clerk and more, she knows first-hand the importance of a safe and healthy working environment, free from discrimination, harassment or retaliation.

In law school Anita was a recipient of the Peggy Browning Fund for Labor Rights and she interned at the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, which further fueled her passion for employment and labor law.

She has experience in many types of employment law cases including discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, Whistleblower Protection Act, unemployment insurance benefits, labor board disputes, licensing board issues, Family Medical Leave Act issues, unpaid wages and incorrect classification of employees as contractors or as having exempt status rather than being paid hourly wages.

Fighting for your Rights in Family Law Cases

Anita also has a lot of experience in divorce, custody, CYFD and other family law cases, ever since law school when she served as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in cases involving children placed in foster care. She has also advocated for parents who are victims of government overreach and adoption attempts by foster parents with more money or privilege than the birth parents may have.

Although it may feel like there can be a lot of shame and stigma involved in divorce and custody cases, Anita believes that it is best for each parent to be the healthiest, happiest version of themselves and sometimes that means separating from their current relationship or partner. She will help you find freedom and a new start!

Representing New Mexicans with Pride

Anita moved to Albuquerque in 2003 to attend the University of New Mexico School of Law, where she earned her law degree in 2006. She had lived here ever since and she loves green chile and Sandia sunsets so much that she now considers it home. After growing up in Pennsylvania, going to college in New York, as well as traveling all around to many different countries, states, cities and towns, Anita can confidently say that there’s nowhere else she’d rather be!

She became licensed to practice law in state and Federal court in New Mexico in 2006 and has done so ever since. Many of her cases are in New Mexico and she aims to help the little gal or guy beat Goliath here as much as possible. No matter what part of the state you live in, she can represent you.

Also Representing Some Employment Law Clients Nationwide

Anita practices Federal sector Equal Employment Opportunity law for government workers as well as other administrative and arbitration cases nationwide. When necessary she also teams up with local co-counsel for employment cases in other jurisdictions.

No matter your employment law issue, Anita may be able to help or to refer you to someone who can, so please don’t hesitate to contact Anita Kelley Law. Please note that Anita practices family law solely in New Mexico.

Representing You in a Variety of Different Cases

Anita also has experience in personal injury, worker’s compensation, wills and trust, foreclosure defense, landlord/tenant, construction law, commercial and general civil litigation. She spent six years working at prominent civil defense and litigation boutique firms in Albuquerque before opening her own firm in 2012. Therefore she is qualified to represent you in many different types of litigation cases and some transactional cases as well, and if she can’t help, she will refer you to an attorney who can.

Anita represents injured people in car accidents, slip and falls and other personal injury cases, as well as workers’ compensation clients who were injured while at work. She believes in getting justice from insurance companies and big businesses and will fight for fair compensation for you.

Writing for Your Rights and Advocating for You Every Step of the Way

Anita has always loved to write and has had numerous articles, essays and short stories published in various publications, and has also self-published novels in a variety of different genres. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in creative writing and literature from Sarah Lawrence College and she studied Latin American and Spanish Literature and language at St. Louis University’s Madrid Campus for a year. She was an Editor of the New Mexico Law Review in law school, which taught her the best way to perform legal research and writing that can benefit her clients.

In her law practice, Anita has a lot of experience with written advocacy including briefs, pleadings and letters. Since she loves storytelling in any form, her favorite part of practicing law is helping a client tell their story to a mediator, judge or jury.

She was the President of the Alternative Dispute Resolution student organization in law school and believes that many disputes can be solved with effective written and oral communication. She has served as a mediator both informally, between employees and employers, as well as formally, when appointed in cases. However, Anita is also an enthusiastic trial lawyer who loves presenting the facts (plot), witnesses (characters) and timeline (storyline) to the jury so that they can award the plaintiff the happily ever after ending their story deserves!

Set up a Consultation

If you think Anita can help you with your case, please contact Anita Kelley Law to set up a consultation by texting (505) 587-3949 today!

Thank you for allowing Anita the opportunity to speak with you regarding your legal needs.

¡Se habla español!

Areas of Special Interest and Experience

• Whistleblower employment law cases, in which teachers or administrators of schools are advocating for special education resources. Anita has won settlements for these clients who were wrongfully terminated or otherwise retaliated against after speaking up on behalf of special needs children when their employers were not following special education laws.

• School law in general, including ensuring that children are given evaluations and IEPs that are followed, and that students are free from civil rights violations while at school and school district employees are free from discrimination or retaliation while at work. Anita has won settlements for students who were bullied by classmates and sexually harassed by classmates, as well as representing teachers who are neurodivergent and/or who helped neurodivergent students try to access the resources to which they are entitled.
  
  
• Mental illness disability discrimination in employment law cases. This is an area that is very stigmatized and can be difficult to navigate but Anita has won settlements for employees who requested reasonable accommodations due to their mental health and were denied or retaliated against for even asking.

• Pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment in employment law cases. Anita has represented countless clients who were preyed on by their bosses or dismissed due to being pregnant.
  
  
• Medical marijuana patients protected by the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act in the workplace. This is a new and ever-expanding area of law in which Anita has experience and expertise.
  
  
• Other discrimination and retaliation cases in the workplace, including gender, age, race, religious belief or lack thereof, physical disability and sexual orientation discrimination.
  

• Helping people find freedom from toxic or abusive relationships and domestic violence situations in divorce or civil restraining order cases.
  
  
• Helping children be free from the abusive and toxic atmosphere of parents who can’t get along and are better off living apart.
  
  
• Helping children and birth parents stay together in foster care/adoption/CYFD cases where the parents need resources and support to become the best parents possible.
  
  
• Foreclosure defense and counter-claims against banks for homeowners’ and/or consumer rights violations.
  
  
• Small claims court suits or other cases of consumer and/or employee rights against Amazon and other large corporations.

Personal Interests

In her spare time, Anita loves spending time with her large family and circle of close friends and workout buddies. She teaches and attends Zumba classes all around Albuquerque and other cities and attends weightlifting classes at a local community gym (ZonAtletica). She volunteers by doing Zumba masterclass fundraisers for kids’ athletic events and has been a foster parent to dogs, although currently her family had already adopted so many pets (including dogs, cats and rabbits) that the inn is full!

She loves reading, writing and storytelling in any form, as well as traveling (especially to the beach!), playing the flute, going to concerts, Broadway shows (her favorite is Rent!) or plays, skiing, hiking, walking/jogging, camping, and otherwise being outdoors. As a former band geek and lifelong book nerd, her audiobook and music obsession ensures that you can spot her with headphones on whenever she’s alone.

Anita is a proud mom of four kids and seven fur kids and has been happily married for over a decade to a web developer who also helps out with tech issues and client services at the law firm. She happens to love elephants, corgis, and bright, bold colors like red, pink, orange and turquoise.

Set up a Consultation

Contact Anita Kelley Law to set up a consultation by texting (505) 587-3949 today!

A note from Anita: Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak with you regarding your legal needs. It is my pleasure to represent you or to find someone who can.

¡Se habla español!

• Bachelor of Arts, Sarah Lawrence College.
  Bronxville, New York, 2003.
  

• One year studying abroad at St. Louis University’s Madrid Campus.
  Madrid, Spain, 1999-2000.
  
  
• Juris Doctor, University of New Mexico School of Law.
  Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2006.

Admittance, Licensure, Representation and Referral Capabilities

• Admitted to practice law in all courts in the state of New Mexico as well as the Federal District of New Mexico and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, with an active license with the New Mexico State Bar as of September 2006.
  
  
• Representing clients nationwide in Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) cases and other administrative courts and arbitrations.
  
  
• Representing clients in disciplinary matters in front of licensing boards in the State of New Mexico, including nurses, realtors and attorneys.
  
  
• Representing clients in many different administrative forums such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Tribunal.
  
  
• Representing some employment law clients in other jurisdictions as co-counsel with local attorneys when necessary.
  
  
• Representing clients in matters involving Children, Youth and Family Department (CYFD) proceedings.
  
  
• Helping potential clients find representation in all cases including those that need referrals elsewhere. Examples include employees on or near Native American Representatives who need representation in tribal courts, criminal defense cases and other cases outside the realm of expertise.

Do You Need a Lawyer? Let “Anita Lawyer” Help You!

If you need a lawyer, contact Anita Kelley Law to immediately set up a consultation by texting (505) 587-3949 today!

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you about your legal needs. When you need a lawyer, “Anita Lawyer” is here for you!

¡Se habla español!

You can also book a consult on Anita’s calendar by clicking here: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ2StEV9m-dyj53uf9cj1VufQWp9sswS9jny0Q2WLkAWPlt7BlivvkJkbrJAWLhXD-WbgEot__xn

If you are a current client, call or text (505) 750-3036 or email amk@anitakelleylaw.com.

All meetings and phone calls with potential or current clients are scheduled by appointment only.

Our hours vary and we do not do walk-in appointments. We are happy to set up a mutually convenient time to discuss your current or potential case.

Thank you for your interest in Anita Kelley Law; I look forward to helping you!