Overview
Chelsea Klumppace is an associate attorney in Merkley Jones Eastham’s Louisiana office.
Though Chelsea attended law school in Texas, she has deep roots in Louisiana having been born and raised in Lake Charles, and she is immensely proud of her Cajun heritage. Chelsea is licensed to practice law in both Louisiana and Texas.
Chelsea joins the firm after spending several years sharpening her advocacy skillset as an immigration attorney at a Houston law firm. In addition to winning complicated cases for her clients all over the country in both affirmative and defensive immigration proceedings, she also successfully represented clients in civil litigation against federal government agencies. Chelsea takes great pride in her legal research and writing abilities.
While in law school at the University of Houston Law Center, Chelsea spent two years as a student attorney in the Immigration Clinic, during which time she argued before the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the Houston Journal of International Law, competed on her law school’s national mock trial team, and won multiple advocacy awards. She was also awarded the “Distinguished Service Award” by the law school faculty, and she was chosen by her law school graduating class as their student commencement speaker.
Prior to law school, Chelsea worked as a creative services producer at a local television station in Lake Charles, and before that as cast member at Walt Disney World in various roles.
Outside of her practice, Chelsea and her wife are actively involved in community theatre, both on stage and off stage. Chelsea recently starred in Steel Magnolias, Plaza Suite, Crimes of the Heart, and Five Women Wearing the Same Dress and was Stage Manager for Little Shop of Horrors. She also enjoys traveling, juggling numerous reality TV series, exploring different cuisines, and making memories with her wife and their new son.
Professional Information & Education
Practice Areas
- Immigration
- Commercial Litigation
Education
- J.D. – University of Houston Law Center – 2021 – Magna Cum Laude
- M.A. in English – McNeese State University – 2017
- M.A. in Communication – University of Louisiana at Monroe – 2014
- B.G.S. – McNeese State University – 2012 – Summa Cum Laude
Court Admissions
- State Bar of Texas
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
Certifications
- Louisiana Notary Public
Honors and Distinctions
- National Order of the Scribes
- Order of the Coif
Professional Memberships
- Southwest Louisiana Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas – Immigration and Nationality Law Section & LGBTQ+ Law Section