Deirdre O'Donnell

I was born February 22, 1962 in St. Louis, Missouri. I graduated from Pattonville High School in St. Louis County in 1980, received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1986, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Washington University in 1988, and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Washington University School of Law in 1996. I was licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri in 1996.

As a young adult I was a keyboardist in a small contemporary jazz band which performed in various venues in and around St. Louis and I studied jazz piano privately and at Webster University. Later, I worked as a social worker where I gained experience and training that I credit for my organizational, listening and problem solving techniques that serve my legal practice well. I make personal service and open and frequent communication with clients indispensable components of my law practice.

After becoming a lawyer, I worked as an assistant public defender with the Missouri State Public Defender’s System from 1996 to 1998, serving primarily the Camden County, Lake of the Ozarks area. I entered the private practice of law by joining the Camdenton, Missouri law firm of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter & Welch, P.C. as an Associate in March of 1998 and became a shareholder of the firm in the year 2000. I was engaged in the general practice of law with this firm until July 31, 2014.

Propelled by a vision that I had to give birth to, with the help and support of family and friends, on August 1, 2014, I launched my own law firm, O’Donnell Law Center. I feel like I have been preparing for that my entire life. The Center’s business model is based upon cutting edge technology, customer service, efficiency and building life-long relationships.

My husband “Bob” and I have two sons, Michael and Jared. Michael is a scientist, and Jared is in high school, enjoying track, mixed marshal arts training and computer gaming. We share our household with a delightful German Short Hair Pointer “Lady.” Bob and I enjoy trips on our Harley, growing flowers and vegetables in our raised-bed garden, challenging ourselves with cooking and eating exotic foods and squeezing that last mile out of our all-electric car. We have become a family of bee keepers, and our number of hives keeps growing.

Education

-Juris Doctorate, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri, 1996
-Masters of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1988
-Bachelor of Arts, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1986
-Professional Associations, Memberships and Clubs

The Missouri Bar Association
-The 26 Judicial Bench and Bar Association
-Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
-National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
-The Chamber of Commerce
-BNI International
-Newcomers/Longtimers Club