Sarah Welch attended Virginia Tech, where she studied Political Science, Sociology and History. It was there that she began to develop her passion for social justice. Ms. Welch volunteered with the Radford Women’s Shelter, as well as Tekoa Residential Treatment Services. She also served as President of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and was an active member of the Virginia Tech chapters of Kappa Kappa Gamma and the American Civil Liberties Union. After she graduated in 2003, Ms. Welch spent a year clerking for the firms of Phillips, Beckwith, Hall & Chase, PC and the Law Offices of Jay B. Myerson.
Ms. Welch graduated from New York Law School in 2007. During her time there, Ms. Welch served as President of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Secretary of the Student Bar Association, and a member of both the Public Interest Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union. She received the Government Fellowship Award in 2005 and 2006 for her work in the public interest sector. While attending New York Law School, she studied criminal law and procedure under the guidance of practicing public defenders in New York City and New Jersey.
While attending law school, Ms. Welch was gaining hands-on criminal defense experience. She clerked for the Honorable Rosemarie Annunziata, of the Virginia Court of Appeals, and the Honorable Robert W. Wooldridge, Jr., of the Fairfax County Circuit Court. Ms. Welch also clerked at the King’s County District Attorney’s Office and the Fairfax County Public Defender’s Office, where she was the lead attorney for a variety of cases. She also assisted with pre-trial investigations, trial preparation and strategy, and appeals.
Ms. Welch has continued her commitment to public service during her time in private practice. Following law school, she volunteered as a pro bono attorney with Legal Services of Northern Virginia, where she successfully represented impoverished domestic violence victims in obtaining protective orders.
Currently, Ms. Welch is a criminal defense attorney with the firm of Anderson & Wooditch, P.C where she advocates for and defends the rights of those persons charged of criminal offenses in Virginia. Ms. Welch’s defense experience has resulted in the successfully resolution of matters involving child support enforcement, juvenile crimes, narcotics offenses, prescription fraud cases, sex offenses, serious traffic matters, financial crimes, and a variety of other misdemeanor and felony offenses.
Ms. Welch is a member of the American Bar Association, Virginia State Bar, Criminal Division, Fairfax Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International. Ms. Welch currently resides in Northern Virginia with her husband, Ryan, and their dog, Piper. She enjoys playing softball and soccer, as well as swimming, and is an active member in the local chapter of the Optimists Club located in Leesburg, Virginia.
