Kelly Pate Recognized at 68th Annual YMCA of Greater Montgomery Man of the Year Banquet for Commitment to City’s Youth

Kelly Pate, chair of Balch’s Diversity Committee and member of the Litigation Practice, was recognized at the 68th Annual YMCA of Greater Montgomery Man of the Year Banquet, on December 9, as a 2019 Award Nominee for her outstanding community service work. Each year the YMCA of Greater Montgomery hosts this event to recognize the men and women who diligently serve the youth in our community. 

Kelly’s nomination was presented by the Booker T. Washington Government Club of Montgomery. After the school burned down, Balch assisted in funding their access to online legal research databases and other activities. Kelly also collected books from our attorneys to help replace the law books they lost. She was a guest speaker to the law class and spent time talking with the students about being a lawyer. All of the assistance Balch collectively provided, helped the school’s program get back up and running. Since then, Booker T. Washington has competed in the YMCA Youth Judicial program.

Kelly’s work for the YMCA goes beyond this connection to Booker T. Washington. She would not be a lawyer without exposure, as a youth in Montgomery, to the YMCA’s Youth in Government programs like Youth Legislature, Youth in City, and Youth Judicial. She is a long-time board member of the Britton YMCA, which is dedicated to hosting these and many other youth programs. As a board member, Kelly has the opportunity to fundraise for the programs, participate as a judge, and have other supporting roles.

At Balch, Kelly works with clients to develop employer policies, provide training, mitigate risks, and litigate employment and business matters. She works with businesses and higher education institutions through internal complaint, investigation, and grievance processes. She also regularly represents clients in the federal courts in Alabama, most often in the Middle District, and her practice also requires appearances for clients in Alabama's circuit and appellate courts.