A large part of Joe Welch’s law practice involves the representation of activists, protesters, and criminal cases that have a political angle. He is a longtime member of the National Lawyers Guild and NORML, having served on the boards of the St. Louis chapters of both organizations. He also teaches a CLE (continuing legal education) for other attorneys, students, legal workers and jailhouse lawyers about defending protesters.

His clients have been involved in the

Ferguson uprising/Justice for Mike Brown protests

Occupy St. Louis

Occupy the Midwest

Cannabis legalization movement

Peabody Coal protests

Foreclosure resistance movement

Justice for Isaiah Hammett movement

Anthony Lamar Smith/Jason Stockley protests

Civil War monument protests

Anti-trump protests

Breonna Taylor protests

Palestine liberation protests

Washington University protests

He also represents

Medical cannabis patients

Religious cannabis users

Politicians running on marijuana legalization platforms

Black Lives Matter supports

Transgender rights activists

Veterans fighting for their right to use medical cannabis

Civil rights activists

Anarchists

Environmental activists

Palestinian rights activists

Members of the “Wash U 100” arrested on 4-27-2024

The indigent and oppressed

Joe Welch represents many of these clients for a reduced fee, low bono, or completely pro bono basis. Often activists are not responsible for paying their own attorney fees and enlist the help of other activists or organizations to pay for their defense.