Teresa L. Anderson

Teresa L. Anderson is a seasoned attorney at Polsinelli with a strong background in family law, child advocacy, and criminal defense. She currently focuses on handling family court appointments in Jackson County, including complex cases involving child abuse and neglect. As a guardian ad litem, she advocates for the best interests of children in custody matters and has significant experience managing all aspects of case preparation and courtroom proceedings.

Ms. Anderson earned her J.D. from Washburn University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of Kansas.

Before joining Polsinelli, Ms. Anderson worked as a trial attorney and supervisor at the Public Defender Juvenile Office from 1998 to 2000. In that role, she served as lead defense counsel in 34 jury trials involving serious felony charges, including first- and second-degree murder, assault, and robbery. She also mentored junior attorneys as co-counsel in more than 50 additional jury trials, building a strong reputation for trial advocacy, leadership, and courtroom effectiveness.

Ms. Anderson is deeply involved in the legal community. She is affiliated with the American Bar Association’s Juvenile Law Committee, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and The Missouri Bar. She also serves on the Kansas Appleseed Board of Directors and the Advisory Board for Legal Aid of Western Missouri’s Volunteer Attorney Project. Her dedication to pro bono service has earned her multiple honors, including the 2021 Pro Bono Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly and the Robert C. Welch Award in 2019.

With over three decades of trial and advocacy experience, Teresa L. Anderson is a committed legal professional who brings compassion, diligence, and exceptional skill to every case she handles.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Polsinelli
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Juvenile Law Committee, Tutoring Program 2000-2002
• Member, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
• Board of Directors, Kansas Appleseed
• Member, Advisory Board for Legal Aid of Western Missouri’s Volunteer Attorney Project
• Member, Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance
• Member, The Missouri Bar

Licensed State

• Kansas
• Missouri

Education

• Washburn University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Kansas
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges