As a Nebraska native, Kelsey attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and then Nebraska Law School. While in law school, Kelsey participated in moot court competitions and the school’s trial team. Upon graduation, Kelsey was awarded membership in the Order of the Barristers for her oral advocacy achievement.

Following law school, her pursuit of making the legal system accessible to everyone led her to a position as a staff attorney with Iowa Legal Aid. While at Legal Aid, Kelsey assisted victims of crime with a wide variety of legal issues including landlord/tenant and disability law. However, Kelsey’s primary area of practice was in family law. She is a member of the Pottawattamie County Women’s Bar Association and the 4th District Bar Association.