Kelly graduated with distinction from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1988. While in law school, Kelly served as a judicial clerk to then Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, the Hon. Randall T. Shephard. Since beginning practice, she has represented hospitals, physicians and other health care professionals before the Indiana Department of Insurance and in State and Federal Courts. She has tried numerous bench and jury trials, and she has argued appellate cases before the Indiana Court of Appeals and Indiana Supreme Court. Since 2010, Kelly has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Medical Malpractice Defense and, since 2011, as a Best Lawyer in America.. She is also an AV rated lawyer by Martindale Hubble. She has presented at numerous Continuing Education seminars on topics related to medical malpractice defense, as well as in-services to hospital clients on a variety of related topics. She is a member of Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana and the Indiana Bar Association.