Sophie Kelly
Sophie has been in the legal field since 2015. She first started as a bankruptcy and family law paralegal for the Law Office of Jason Ward, LLC from September 2015 to August 2018.
Sophie then worked as a paralegal for the Law office of Megan Goodwin Burke, LLC for 5 years from August 2018 until June 2023. Megan Goodwin Burke is a family law attorney that specializes in Guardian ad Litem work. There, Sophie was able to apply her passion for children to her work and to learn about the Guardian ad Litem world. She learned about the rules surrounding Guardian work and helped her attorney through each and every case with due diligence.
After June 2023, Sophie left the Law Office of Megan Goodwin Burke, LLC to join the SC Department of Children's Advocacy as an Advocate Supervisor for the Greenville County CASA Guardian ad Litem Program. She volunteered as the Guardian ad Litem on many cases while in this role and also advocated for the Guardians on her team by acquiring records for them, assisting them with court, ensuring that they felt supported, and much more. These cases involved abuse and neglect that had been taken into the family court system by the SC Department of Social Services.
Sophie ultimately decided to leave in July of 2026 and start her own practice to become a private lay Guardian to make a difference for the children in private family law cases.
Sophie did not have the easiest childhood and has tailored her career and education towards children and families specifically in the areas of resilience and advocacy. Sophie graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice in 2015 and a Master's Degree in Youth Development Leadership in 2020. She understands the difficulties of navigating life as a young mom as she had her first child at 19 years old. Today, she is the proud mom of a 16-year-old and a 19-year-old!
During her free time, Sophie enjoys slowing down and just being home, sitting on the back porch, cooking, reading thriller books, and spending time with her children and her husband Chris.
Bachelor's
Sophie earned her Bachelor's Degree
in Criminal Justice through the University
of Central Florida in December of 2015.
Master's
Sophie earned her Master's Degree
In Youth Development Leadership through
Clemson University in December of 2020.
Continuing Education
Sophie continues to attend as many continuing education seminars, trainings, and conferences as she can to stay up to date on present practices, standards, and procedures.