Jared P. Welch is a partner with Shafer & Welch, L.C. Jared joined the firm as an associate upon graduation from law school in 2002 and was named partner in January 2009.

Jared was raised in Parnell, Nodaway County, located in the rural agricultural area of Northwest Missouri. Jared learned from his parents, grandparents and extended family the importance of working hard and looking out for family, friends and neighbors. From an early age Jared was influenced by the example of his parents and grandparents and their willingness to give back to their communities. Jared’s family life and rural upbringing taught him humility, how to work hard and the need to be generous with his time and talents.

Jared received his undergraduate degree from Central Missouri State University, now University of Central Missouri and worked his way through college as a laborer in a steel foundry. Jared served as a legislative intern to the late Ronnie DePasco who served as Senator for Missouri’s 11th District. Jared also followed in the footsteps of both of his World War II veteran grandfathers and joined the United States Air Force-Missouri Air National Guard. He is a 12 year military veteran and spent the last six years of his service working in the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps.

Driven by his deeply rooted work ethic and a passion for helping others Jared pursued his law degree and graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 2002. While in law school Jared worked in the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Western District of Missouri and clerked at the Shafer Law Office, L.C.

In 2005 Jared was selected to participate in the Greater Kansas City Bar Leadership Academy. This honor is designed to select emerging leaders in the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and enhance their leadership skills to better serve the legal profession and their communities.

In 2008 Jared was appointed by the Board of Governors of the Missouri Bar to serve on the Missouri Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee for the Sixth Judicial Circuit (Platte County). The Judicial Evaluation Committees in general are tasked to evaluate the performance of the Missouri Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeals and the five trial circuits participating in the Non-Partisan or Missouri Court Plan.

In 2009 Jared was selected by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers magazine as a Rising Star. This honor is given to attorneys that are 40 years old or younger that have been practicing less than 10 years to recognize the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state.

Jared is married to Pamela J. Welch, also a practicing attorney. They reside in Platte City, Missouri with their daughters Clare and Cate. Jared is described by those closest to him as compassionate and intensely loyal. Jared’s interests beyond law include spending time with family and friends as well as hunting with his German shorthair pointer Huck.

Jared has a passion to fight and work hard for those that need help. Although Jared concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and workers’ compensation, his experience also includes a wide range of civil and criminal cases including:

• Traffic matters including Driving While Intoxicated offenses
• Both misdemeanor and felony criminal cases
• Corporate formation and business litigation
• Real estate
• Probate and estate planning

EDUCATION:

University of Central Missouri (B.S. in History and Political Science) 1998
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (Juris Doctorate) 2002

PAST EMPLOYMENT AND EXPERIENCE

Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Weston, Missouri
United States Air Force-Missouri Air National Guard, Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corp
Federal Public Defender Trial Clinic, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

The Missouri Bar
Platte County Bar Association
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
Missouri Municipal and Associate Circuit Court Prosecutors Association
Sixth Judicial Circuit Judicial Performance Committee

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS:

American Legion Post 528, Parnell, Missouri
National Eagle Scouts Association, Boy Scouts of America
Catholic Lawyers Guild of Kansas City
Knights of Columbus, Holy Trinity-XII Apostles Council No. 12288
Ancient Order of Hibernians, Patrick Pearse Division, Kansas City, Missouri
XII Apostles Catholic Church, Platte City, Missouri
XII Apostles Catholic Church New Building Committee