Chelsea Straus

Chelsea Straus is an associate in the Public Law Department at Richards, Watson & Gershon. Chelsea advises public agencies on a wide array of governmental law issues, including conflicts of interest, public works law, the Public Records Act, election law, and constitutional law issues.

Work for Clients

Chelsea serves as the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Monrovia.

Professional Experience

Chelsea joined Richards, Watson & Gershon in 2018 as a summer associate. During law school, she was a Discourse Editor for the UCLA Law Review. She also interned at the Alliance for Children’s Rights and served in leadership roles for both the American Constitution Society and the Education and Law Society. Prior to her legal career, Chelsea worked as an Education Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.

Experience with the Public Records Act

Chelsea regularly assists local government clients in complying with the Public Records Act. She works with clients to respond to Public Records Act requests in a timely manner by advising clients on the scope of Public Records Act requests and providing advice on the responsiveness of certain documents. She also reviews responsive records to determine whether the records, or portions thereof, are exempt from disclosure. Chelsea then provides clients with a clear explanation of which documents should be produced, redacted, and/or withheld based on relevant statutory authority.