About Melvin R.
Melvin R. Welch built a legal foundation across languages and law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park, studying history and Russian language and literature. Before law school he completed Russian-language training at the Defense Language Institute. He returned to Minnesota to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2007.
Welch began his legal work in the public sector. While still early in his career he handled postconviction and appellate matters for the Minnesota State Public Defender in 2006. That work gave him an intensive grounding in appellate procedure and postconviction remedies. In 2008 he joined the Office of the Hennepin County Lawyer as an Assistant County Lawyer, where he was responsible for a range of county-level legal duties.
After several years in public roles, Welch moved into private practice. He served as an associate at Appelman Law Office in 2013. The following year he launched Welch Law Office LLC. He has maintained that practice since 2014. He is admitted to practice in Minnesota and is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
His experience touches several stages of criminal and civil litigation. The early appellate and postconviction work informs his approach to written advocacy and procedural strategy. County-law responsibilities added experience in client counseling and courtroom practice. In private practice he has managed matters that require both trial-level attention and appellate briefing. He also brings language training in Russian to cases where that skill is relevant.
Outside the courtroom he has been active in bar and alumni circles. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar and has served on the board of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association since 2005. He joined the University of Minnesota Alumni and Student Engagement Committee in 2015 and remains involved there. His membership roles reflect an ongoing connection to the legal community in Minnesota.
Welch continues to run Welch Law Office LLC, operating from a main office and a satellite location. His practice centers on appeals and postconviction matters and includes representation in state and federal courts.
