Kathleen Walsh

Kathleen Grace Walsh is a Virginia attorney whose practice specialties encompass Virginia Workers’ Compensation, and Social Security Disability. She is known and respected throughout the state’s legal community, and was recognized by her peers in 2019 and 2020 with a Super Lawyer designation and was selected a Leader in the Law for 2019. She was recognized as a Best lawyer for her work on behalf of injured workers. In addition, she is beloved by her clients for her empathy, her determination to help them, and her kindness. Ms. Walsh was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She attended The George Washington University in Washington, DC, (B.A. 1980), where courses in Political Science first sparked her interest in the law. Following graduation, Kathleen worked as a reporter from 1980 - 1983 for Commerce Clearing House, focusing on Consumer Product Protections and Food & Drug regulation. It was here that Kathleen honed her interest in protecting society’s workers, and those in need. In 1983, Kathleen entered The Columbia School of Law at Catholic University in Washington, DC (JD, 1986). While earning her degree, Kathleen worked at Ashcraft & Gerel as a legal clerk, and upon passing the Virginia bar, she successfully transitioned from the clerk position to an attorney and eventually to a non-equity partner. While with Ashcraft & Gerel, (1986 – 2000), Kathleen focused on Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury and Social Security cases. In 1993, she added membership in the New Jersey State Bar to her list of accomplishments. Ms. Walsh opened her solo practice in 2000 in Occoquan, VA. Her firm specializes in Workers’ Compensation law and Social Security disability cases. The 6-person office handles an average of 350 cases annually.In 2015, Kathleen received her Board Certification for Social Security Law. More recently, she was accepted as a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers. Her professional positions include the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Inn of Court, where she is Past President and continues to serve on the Executive Committee and the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Inn of Court Advisory Conference, where she is Chairperson (2019 – 2021). In that role, Ms. Walsh works with attorneys on both sides of workers’ compensation law, and is driving the group to achieve significant system improvements that will benefit everyone. Her uppermost goal is to drive for a complete revision of the Commission’s Rules, something that has not been addressed in many years. Kathleen has been a frequent presenter at law conferences, including the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Practice Retreat. In 2011, her presentation was entitled, “Unionized Employees; Collective Bargaining Agreements and What They Entail.” More recently, in November of 2016, she updated the group on the Brock case. In November 2017, she presented “The Impact of Riverside v. Dugger, Temporal Precision”. In November 2019, her presentation was “What’s Work Got To Do With It” looking at developments in arising out of cases. She is scheduled to present My Cousin Vinny, a presentation on effective cross examination to the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Inn of Court annual conference in June 2021.Ms. Walsh has presented at the National Business Institute conference, with topics ranging from, “Handling a Social Security Disability Case” to “Handling the Workers’ Compensation Case from Start to Finish.”As an attorney who represents unionized workers, Kathleen annually trains the International Association of Machinists on Workers’ Compensation Law.