Shelley's Background

Shelley A. Kester is an award-winning attorney, a community leader, a dynamic communicator and a caring individual. Her practice includes divorce law and encompasses complex legal matters and related misdemeanor criminal law. She is one of the area’s few attorneys to hold a Certificate of Completion in the area of Family Law issued by the Institute of Continuing Education and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Ms. Kester is an active member of local, state and national bar associations and has served on committees closely aligned with her practice area. As a trained facilitative and collaborative law mediator, she provides mediation services in three state court circuits. At Northwestern Michigan College, she has served as a litigation instructor and mentored paralegals participating in the internship program.

"I work at different speeds, sometimes collaborative, cooperative and problem-solving, at other times formidable and protective. I’m protective of my clients."

Awards

• “Boss of the Year” 2008 by the Grand Traverse Area Legal Professionals
• Named one of Traverse City Business News’ Top Criminal Lawyers in 2007

Bar Association Memberships

• President-Elect, Grand Traverse, Antrim, Leelanau County Bar Association
• Family Law Section, State Bar of Michigan
• Family Law Section, American Bar Association

Education

• McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, California. Served on the Law Review.
• B.A., Political Science, Michigan State University

Experience

• Wilson Kester (formerly known as Wilson & Kester), since 1998.
• Running, Wise, Wilson, Ford & Phillips, 1992-1998. Mentored by T.J. Phillips, now a Michigan District Court Judge, 1992-1998.

Community Service

• Founding member and current chair, Traverse Bay Child Advocacy Center, dedicated to the identification, treatment, awareness and prevention of the sexual and physical abuse of children in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties
• Frequent Volunteer, Women’s Resource Center Divorce Clinic, assisting citizens in the five-county area

Civic Experience

• Mayor, Traverse City
• City Commissioner, Traverse City
• Downtown Development Authority, Traverse City
• Traverse City Planning Commission
• Zoning Board of Appeals, Traverse City
• Safe & Drug Free Schools Advisory Committee, TCAPS
• Founding Board Member, Great Lakes Children’s Museum
• Munson Healthcare, Corporate Member
• Kiwanis Club; Lions Club; Zonta Club
• Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Charities