Katie Vandaveer

Katie Vandaveer was born and raised in the Kansas City Metropolitan area, where her passion for advocacy and justice first took root. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, Katie began her career in the financial sector, working closely with in-house counsel. This early exposure to legal work inspired her to transition into the legal field, where she served as a paralegal for several years before pursuing her law degree at Oklahoma City University School of Law. During law school, Katie was an active leader in organizations that promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion. She served as President of OUTLaws, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ advocacy, and was recognized with two medallions for her service on the OCU Law Diversity Council. Katie also worked as a Summer Associate Law Clerk at the Law Offices of Douglas L. Carter, P.C., where she gained hands-on experience in litigation, client advocacy, jury trial. These experiences deepened her commitment to advancing social justice and protecting the rights of those facing discrimination and legal hardship. Now serving as an Associate Law Clerk at the Law Offices of Douglas L. Carter, P.C., Katie applies her strong research, writing, and case management skills to support clients in complex litigation matters. She is an active member of several professional bar associations and continues to build on her record of leadership and service within the Kansas City legal community. Her dedication and compassion have earned her recognition, including being highlighted as a featured member and future trial attorney by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. Outside of her legal career, Katie enjoys cheering on the local sports teams (Go Chiefs!), traveling, attending live music events, and spending time with her animals—a Yorki-poo named Aldous and a cat named Katniss. She is also passionate about community activism and social justice initiatives.

• Associate Law Clerk

• Former Child Advocate Volunteer for the Jackson County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
• Former Committee Member of the Young Friends of Art (YFA) of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
• Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus

• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA)
• Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City (AWL)
• Lawyers Association of Kansas City (LAKC)
• LAKC Young Lawyers Section (YLS)
• Johnson County Bar Association (JCBA)
• Federal Bar Association
• Former Member at Large on the Board of Directors for the Kansas City Paralegal Association (KCPA)
• Alum Member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International