Laurel Salley was born and raised in the New Orleans area. She attended St. Martin's Episcopal School, the University of Miami, Louisiana State University and Tulane Law School.

While at St. Martin's, Laurel was very involved in the Key Club, a community service organization for high school students. During her years at LSU, she was involved with many campus organizations, including Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. After graduation from LSU, Laurel joined the Lakeside Kiwanis Club, the same community service organization that sponsored her high school's Key Club. She is a member of the Lakeside Kiwanis Club to this day.

While attending Tulane Law School, Laurel worked as a research assistant for A.N. Yiannopoulos, Eason-Weinmann Professor of Comparative Law and Editor of the Louisiana Civil Code. She also studied abroad for two summers, where she took courses taught by United States Supreme Court Justices, as well as Louisiana Supreme Court Judges, Appellate Court Judges and other renowned legal authorities.

Upon her graduation from law school, Laurel decided to join her mother in practice, forming the partnership of Salley & Salley, LLC. After practicing family law with her mother for five years, Laurel was certified as a Family Law Specialists by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.