Kelli Neptune

Kelli Neptune is the Executive Director of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. She joined the Pro Bono Center in May 2022.

From 2019 until 2022, Kelli served as the Director of Externships and Public Interest Programming at Howard University School of Law where she was responsible for the administration of the school’s externship program, teaching, externship pedagogical best practices, ABA compliance, and student pro bono participation.

Prior to joining Howard University School of Law, she spent twelve years in private practice representing clients in family and criminal law matters. She has been a visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center’s Juvenile Justice Clinic and an adjunct professor at Howard University School of Law’s Criminal Justice Clinic.

Earlier in her career, Kelli spent approximately ten years with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, first as a staff attorney in 1997 and then as the Senior Deputy Trial Chief of the Trial Division. In addition to assisting with the management and administration of the Trial Division, she supervised attorneys, managed a felony-one caseload, and conducted training for judges, attorneys, and investigators.

Kelli is the manager of The Artishia and Frederick Jordan Scholarship Fund, a scholarship for Howard University students who participate in campus religious life. She formerly served as a Board Member and Secretary/Treasurer.  Additionally, she served as co-chair of the Association of American Law Schools’ Section on Pro Bono and Public Service Opportunities’ Education Enrichment Committee.

Kelli earned her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law.