Paul M. Kelley

Paul M. Kelley

5.0
Rating: 4.9

Licensed for 14 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Akron, OH
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Family, Litigation

Virtual Law Office, Akron, OH

About Paul

Biography

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 60%

Criminal Defense

15 years | 400 cases

60%
Family 30%

Divorce and Separation Child Custody Child Support

30%
Litigation 10%

Automobile Accidents

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Ohio for 14 years

State: Ohio

Acquired: 2011

Active

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2021

Location

Paul Kelley, Esq.

Virtual Law Office, Akron, OH, 44312

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Paul M. Kelley's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

53 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Compassion

Posted by Jeannine Santoro | January 02, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Thank you !

I called Attorney Paul Kelley to provide legal services for my daughter. He was professional and responded quickly. He not only helped put my mind at ease in a difficult situation but helped alleviate much of my daughter's anxiety as well. He was very easy to work with and communicated on a level tha...t my daughter could understand. He worked quickly to obtain the best results possible. I would highly recommend him. He is the first attorney that I would call. He represented my daughter in a criminal case on multiple charges. He offers a variety of legal services and I will be seeking his legal advice on other matters in the near future

Posted by John | June 25, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

A lawyer that doesn’t walk on water

Many many legal problems over the years and many lawyers hired and fired, I finally found a lawyer who doesn’t think he’s better than everyone and who actually cares about the outcome of a case . Mr Kelley has not only helped me with criminal matters but also custody issues and addiction issues . H...e has come thru for me every time . He has a way of speaking when In a court room that people not only take him very serious but also understand . He has no problem educating his clients when explaining options . Thank you attorney Kelley for everything you have done for my family .

Posted by Lonnel | June 13, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Saved my career

Paul knew we were fighting a up hill battle but he never thought we couldn’t win our case even when the courts tried to get us to plea to a lesser charge Paul believe me when I said I was innocent and said he would do everything to keep my record clean we fought all the way up to the trial date Paul ...was consistent and was not backing down so the prosecutor dismissed the case I credit Paul knowledge of law and his professionalism I would highly recommend Paul he’s compassionate and really cares about his clients

Posted by jon | March 12, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Juvenile

hope

i spoke with paul briefly on phone today and like any other attourney he was honest and not triing to sell another case he was understanding which in my situation the courts have made me look like someone im not because i was incompetent at the early yrs of my life but it keeps dragging me down hes s...eems to see me different then the ones who dont know me but get to judge me and destroy not just my life but lots of lifes i will update after court but i have a great feeling for the first time ever going to court and believe me that never happens

Posted by Stephanie | October 25, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Better Call Paul

I was recently arrested and incarcerated at the county jail for a probation violation for failure to report to my probation officer. The original conviction was a felony 3 conveyance charge for bringing pills into jail when I turned myself in for an OVI. I was facing up to three years in prison (part... of the original sentence, which was suspended) for the probation violation. I thought for sure that the judge would impose the maximum sentence and I was very worried. Attorney Paul Kelley really went to bat for me. We kept in touch daily by phone while I was in jail and he even visited me twice during my 3 week stay. His dedication continuously reassured me that he was fighting for me every step of the way, however prison was a real and likely possibility. He did not sugarcoat that fact, but he was able to get me into rehab instead of prison and even convinced the judge to release me from jail to wait for a bed to open up instead of waiting for the rehab to come get me from jail. And when the court didn't process the paperwork for my release in a timely manner, he spent a lot of time contacting my probation officer, the prosecutor and other court officials. He even went to the court house personally on my behalf, to expedite my release from jail. He was genuinely angry at how the court was handling my case and there's no doubt in my mind that he cared about my case and my situation as a person not just as his client. Attorney Paul Kelley puts his ALL into his work and I truly believe that I would still be locked up in the county jail and waiting for the next bus to prison if I had not hired him. I would recommend attorney Paul Kelley 100% to anyone facing legal issues or family court/divorce.

See All Client Reviews

Paul M. Kelley's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Paul
Michael Thomas Muha headshot
Michael Muha

Criminal defense lawyer | Nov 15

Relationship: Friend

"Paul is a zealous advocate for his clients. I wholeheartedly endorse him and I have referred many clients to him in the past with great success."

Ashley Lenore Jones headshot
Ashley Jones

Family lawyer | Oct 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Paul is a talented, creative, and kind lawyer. He works hard for his clients and does not back down from opposing counsel. I would not hesitate to refer him a case."

View All Endorsements
Olivia Anne Myers headshot
Olivia Myers

Criminal defense lawyer

Ryan A. Mergl headshot
Ryan Mergl

Unknown lawyer

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Jacob Will

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Ashley Jones

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James Irvin

Criminal defense lawyer

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R. Paul Cushion

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Jack Malicki

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Thomas Gregory Haren headshot
Thomas Haren

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Dan Myers headshot
Dan Myers

Construction and development lawyer

Experience

Rating:  4.9 (Concern)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2021.

Stayed Suspension Placed on Probation issued in OH, 2021

updated on 09/05/2025

This type of suspension means the attorney has been suspended, but that the suspension is placed on hold (and ultimately removed) if the attorney complies with certain requirements.

Paul’s comment:

“Probation Terminated - 4-17-2024”

Honors

2011

President, Cleveland Marshall Politicians Association

Work Experience

2014 - Present

Attorney, Paul Kelley, Esq

2012 - 2013

Attorney Associate, The Law Office of Jack Malicki

2011 - 2011

Intern, Cleveland City Prosecutor's Office

2010 - 2010

Trial intern, Canton Law Department

Associations

2010 - 2011

Cleveland Marshall Political Association

President

Education

2011

Cleveland Marshall college of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2008

Kent State University

Two Bachelors degrees in Biology and English

Speaking Engagements

2012

Occupy Wall Street

Adversity In a Post Glass-Steagall World

Publications

2013

April 2013 Lorain County Bar Association Newsletter The Misconceptions Surrounding the New Statute of Limitations for Written Contracts

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2021
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution