Kellye A. Swanda

Partner

Location:

Arlington, Texas

Phone:

817-467-4668 (Metro)
817-465-4664 (Local)

Fax:

817-465-3779

E-mail:

E-mail Me

Kellye Swanda is a former Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney who has been practicing law since 1995 and has worked in the legal field since 1986. Ms. Swanda has tried hundreds of cases including several jury trials. Ms Swanda represents foster parents in contested interventions. Ms. Swanda has handled over 200 adoptions. Ms. Swanda is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas. Only a small percentage of Texas attorneys belong to this prestigious organization. The College of the State Bar of Texas is made up of attorneys who every year voluntarily complete extended continuing education courses. She was appointed by the State Bar of Texas to serve on the Child Abuse and Neglect Committee for two times (2002 - 2008). Ms. Swanda was named by Fort Worth Magazine, 2002 as the top attorney in adoptions and C.P.S. cases. Ms. Swanda is a frequent lecturer. Ms. Swanda authored a how to guide that was presented to attorneys and law students in preparation of National Adoption Day 2006 through 2008

Areas of Practice

Foster Parent Intervention
Foster Parent Adoptions
Step Parent Adoptions
Private Adoptions
Child Protective Services
Parent/Child
Child Welfare
Recognition of International Adoptions

Litigation Percentage

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

Texas, 1995
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1995

Education

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas
- J.D. - 1995
- Honors: Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
- Honors: Mediator Certificate, 1994
- Honors: Honored in 2008 as Alumni of the Year
University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
- B.A. - 1987
- Major: Political Science

Classes/Seminars

The CPS Judicial System, Tarrant County Excel Center training for MHMR caseworkers and social workers servicing children in Tarrant County, 2011
Termination and Adoption and Parental Rights and Duties, Texan College for Judicial Studies, 2011
What Happens After Termination? How to Perfect the CPS Appeal, Callas Bar Association's Annual Juvenile Justice Symposium, 2009
Representing and Engaging Father's in CPS Cases, Presented in collaboration with the American Bar Association's Center on Children and the Law, 2009
Foster Parent's Legal Rights, Ellis County Foster Parent Association, 2009
Presented National Adoption Day Training, Tarrant County Bar Association & students at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, 2008 - 2009
Texan Law on Foster Parenting, Texas Foster parent Association's Annual Convention, 2008
Developed a training program for National Adoption Day, Denton County, 2008
Cross Examination in a CPS Case, Travis County Women Attorney's Association, 2008
CPS Law 101, Texas Foster Parent Association's Annual Convention, 2008
Court Decorum, North Texas Teen Court Competition, Texas Wesleyan School of Law, 2008 - Present
Termination & Adoption, Texas College for Judicial Studies, 2007
How To Guide to Adoption, Tarrant County National Adoption Day Training, 2007
Child Protective Services - Appeal of a Termination Case, Dallas Juvenile Justice Committee, 2007
How To Guide to Adoption, Tarrant County National Adoption Day Training, 2006
Representation of a Parent in a Termination Case, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association, 2006
Appeal of a Juvenile Delinquency Case, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association, 2006
Court Training, Tarrant County CPS Investigators and CVS Workers and Supervisors, 2006
Kinship Issues in CPS Cases.. the ties that Bind, 19th Annual Robert Dawson Juvenile Law Conference, 2006
Representing Parents in CPS Cases, Neglect Hurts Task Force Ad Litem Training, 2005
Kinship Issues in CPS Cases.. the ties that Bind, Advanced Family Law Course, 2005
Other Players in Custody Cases, Annual Poverty Law Conference, 2005
Defending a CPS Case, 18th Annual Robert Dawson Juvenile Law Conference, 2005
Effective Representation of Parents in a CPS Case, Dallas Juvenile Justice Committee, 2004
Defending a CPS Case or How to Level the Playing Field, Advanced Family Law Course, 2004
Defending CPS Investigations, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association Forensic Seminar, 2003
Anatomy of CPS Investigations, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association Forensic Seminar, 2001
Representation in Abuse & Neglect Cases, Texas Children's Justice Project's Continuing Legal Education Program, 2000
Rusty Duncan Seminar, CPS Investigations, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association's 13th Annual Advanced Short Course, June 2, 2000
Defending a Criminal Client in a CPS Investigation, Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Continuing Legal Education, 1999
Multiple Interdisciplinary Child Sexual Abuse Training, Tarrant County College Police Academy, 1995 - 1998
The CPS Court System, Tarrant County Sexual Abuse Advisory Council, 1998
The CPS Court System, Foster Parent Legal Training, 1995 - 1999
Provided Education Seminars, Child Protective Services' Social Workers, 1995 - 1999

Honors and Awards

Judge for the North Texas Teen Court Competition at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
Honored by Texas Wesleyan University School for Law as Alumni of the Year, for community service, facilitating the adoption of several hundred foster children
Presented National Adoption Day training to the Denton County Bar Association for the implementation of an annual National Adoption Day Event
Texas Wesleyan School of Law, Distinguished Alumni Award - 2008
Served on National Adoption Day Committee, 2006 - Present
Appointed to the Child Abuse and Neglect Committee for the State Bar of Texas; 2002 - 2008. Co-chair of Education Section (Course planner/director for 2005 Juvenile Law Conference; Course planner/director for 2004 and 2005 Advanced Family Law Course).
Leadership Arlington - Class of 2002-2003; Chairperson of the Government Section.
Named by Fort Worth Magazine - (December 2002) as the top lawyer for CPS cases and for Adoption cases.

Professional Associations and Memberships

State Bar of Texas, 1995 - Present
Tarrant County Family Law Association, 1995 - Present
Tarrant County Bar Association
Tarrant County Family Lawyers Association

Past Employment Positions

Tarrant County, Assistant District Attorney - Special prosecutor assigned to represent Child Protective Services, 1995 - 1999

Pro Bono Activities

Excel Center - Community Board Member, 2011 - Present
Girl Scouts Leader, 2005 - 2009
Arlington Republican Club (Former Officer)
Tarrant County Republican Forum (vice President)
Tarrant County Republican Forum (Vice President)
Republican Precinct Chair, 2005 - 2006
Tarrant County Republican Assembly, 2001 - 2006

Languages

English