Melissa joined ADZ Law, LLP. in May 2022. She earned her Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law in May 2018 and was admitted to the California Bar December 2018.
At Santa Clara Law, Melissa focused her studies on public interest law practice with the goal of helping low-income individuals access the legal system. During law school, Melissa was hired as a law clerk at Bay Area Legal Aid, providing free legal services to low-income individuals in their domestic violence and immigration practice group. She also worked at Disability Rights California, where she advocated for children in the public school system and state mental health institutions. Her experience with domestic violence and youth advocacy non-profit organizations prepared her for a strong career in family law.
Melissa also held a year-long position with Santa Clara Law’s International Human Rights Clinic, where she and other clinic students co-authored a comprehensive study and report for the Santa Clara County Office of Women’s Policy highlighting conditions and causes of homelessness among women in Santa Clara County. In this role, Melissa also co-authored an ordinance adopted by Santa Clara County which created a task force to effectuate the Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Melissa has a wide range of experience in family law matters. She lends her keen instinct and empathetic approach to all cases she works through. Her experience in public interest and social justice law guides her as she approaches each case with the goal of achieving a fair and just outcome for her clients. In her free time, Melissa enjoys hiking and spending time outside with her rescue dog.
Prior to joining ADZ Law, Melissa worked as an attorney at a boutique family law firm in San Jose and clerked for a Santa Clara County Family Law Judge.
Admissions:
- California State Bar
- Santa Clara County Bar Association
- San Mateo County Bar Association
- United States District Court
- United States District Court for the Northern District of California
Honors and Awards:
- Comments Editor, Santa Clara Journal of International Law Vol. 16.
- Outstanding Comment Award for authoring an article on the illegal ivory trade, Santa Clara Journal of International Law Vol. 15.
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award in the following courses: Business Organizations, Family Law, Remedies, Public Interest and Social Justice Practice.
Education:
- University of Arizona, Tucson – B.A. in History
- Santa Clara University School of Law – J.D.