I'm trying the same thing this year for the first time. I elected to leave all of the leaves in place for worm food/shelter and as a weed suppressant. I've just been clearing rows/spots where I'm starting seeds. Starts are even easier as you can just transplant them in and leave the leaves in place. The only problem I've encountered thus far is wind blowing leaves back where I've cleared to start seeds. Living in a slug-intensive part of the world, however, I suspect that I'll have to deal with more slugs this year because of all the nice inviting mulch. Thus far that hasn't been much of a problem though.

The mulches (shredded leaves) I put down last fall are still there and I have never removed them in the past and have not had a problem with plants I wnat growing throught those mulches. There is no good reason to remove mulches placed last fall. Since the soil bacteria are not too active when the soil is cool I do not see the mulches diminishing until about mid summer.