Brendan Kelly

Brendan Kelly is an Associate Attorney on the Criminal Team at The Irving Law Firm.

Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Brendan graduated from the University of Mary Washington in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After completing his degree, he spent several years abroad, first teaching English in Madrid, Spain, and later serving in the Peace Corps in Rwanda. During his service, he collaborated with Save The Children at the Mahama Refugee Camp, where he taught English to Burundian refugees.

Upon returning to the United States, Brendan enrolled at George Mason University and earned his law degree in 2022. Throughout law school, he remained committed to supporting underserved populations. In 2020, he worked with Colorado Legal Services as an Equal Justice Works Fellow safeguarding the rights of migrant farm workers. In 2021, he joined the Poverty Law Clinic and also became deeply involved in the school’s trial advocacy association, eventually being elected president in his final year.

Following graduation, Brendan continued his dedication to public service by joining the Fredericksburg Public Defender’s Office, where he spent three years advocating for clients facing serious legal challenges. He also volunteers his time as a trial advocacy judge for competitions at George Mason University.

Outside of work, Brendan enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with his dog, Lana.