Chelsea HaleyNelson
Realizing that her initial plan to become a famous ballerina would require a little too much sacrifice (think Black Swan), and she didn't have enough space to start the World’s largest animal sanctuary, Chelsea settled on a legal career. Her 2012 goal is to have BALIF become the go-to legal organization on LGBT issues, not just for the Bay Area, but in California...and beyond!
BALIF Board Co-Chair
Chelsea HaleyNelson received a BA in Political Science-International Relations and Global Peace and Security from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco (USF) School of Law. Her private practice focuses on federal litigation and removal defense with a particular emphasis on LGBT claims. Chelsea serves as a volunteer attorney with the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ immigration program representing LGBT asylum applicants, a mentor attorney for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights pro bono asylum program, a pro bono attorney for BASF’s VIP program and co-counsels with pro bono firms representing victims of worksite enforcement raids. She is also co-chair of the National Lawyers Guild, San Francisco-Bay Area chapter’s Immigration Committee, EOIR Liaison for the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association of Northern California and has published and presented on LGBT human rights issues. She is a native of California who loves to travel, cook and hike with her pug, Rockwell.