Kelly D. Burdette

My name is Kelly Burdette and was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in December 2011.  Upon graduating from the University of Washington in 2001 with a double degree in Political Science and Communications and a minor in Women Studies, I worked for the Washington State Community Action Partnership.  We worked with 30 nonprofit organizations in Washington who provide services to low-income individuals. With the desire to work more closely with people who were in need of assistance, I enrolled in the evening Paralegal Studies Program at the University of Washington in 2004.  I was hired as a paralegal at Burkett & Burdette in April 2004 and have been with the firm since.  Instead of attending law school, I was asked by Lee Burdette, one of the partners of the firm, to participate in the Washington State Bar Association Rule 6 Program.  I worked full-time as a paralegal and studied the law on the side with the assistance of Lee, my mentor.  During my time in the program I became eligible to obtain a limited license to practice law. The program took 4 years and all of my work was reviewed by the Bar committee overseeing the program.  I successfully completed the program in June 2011 and passed the July 2011 Bar exam.   This allowed me to conduct 2 arbitrations, 2 depositions, examine witnesses at trial, including our client at trial last February, draft motions, negotiate on behalf of our clients, all under the supervision of my mentor.  Personally, I love to run, boat, travel, ski, bowl, scuba dive, and spend time with friends and family.