Someone Has to Care with Kathleen Shell

Public defender and Trial Lawyers College alum Kathleen Shell joins Amanda Harbour and Andrew Delaney to talk about the path that led her from private practice to a career defending people whose lives are often reduced to a case number or a prison ID. Kathleen shares how TLC helped her save an innocent client from a murder prosecution, why she remains deeply committed to representing incarcerated people as individuals, and how the relationships she built through the College have shaped the way she practices and serves. She also reflects on the importance of working groups, mentorship, and the kind of community where lawyers can keep learning, reconnecting, and showing up for one another long after a program ends.