Experienced Guidance
When Life Gets Legal SM
Melissa R. Gillis
- Shareholder
I believe that an important key to being a successful attorney is adaptability. I adjust my strategy to suit each situation as it presents itself. I adapt to judges' styles as well as those of opposing counsel. Sometimes I have to be aggressive and take a hard-line stance, but sometimes it makes more sense to be flexible and negotiate. I also enjoy taking a client through a sometimes very emotional cycle to a satisfactory result. It makes me feel good at the end of the day when I've successfully guided somebody through a complex area of the law and accomplished their goals. My clients know that I have listened to their feelings, anxieties, fears and wishes, and have advocated for them accordingly.
Practice Areas
Locations
Education
- Quinnipiac University School of Law, Bridgeport, Connecticut
- J.D. - 2000
- Honors: Distinguished Academic Achievement Award in Bankruptcy, 2000
- Honors: Distinguished Academic Achievement Award in Representing Clients, 2000
- Honors: Excellence in Clinical Workaround Award, 2000
- Honors: Tax Litigation Award, 2000
- Elms College
- B.A. - 1996
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts, 2002
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit
Pro-Bono Activities
- Speaker, Rebuilding Support Group, 2014 to 2014
- Member, Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation
- Member, Pope Francis Preparatory School Athletic Booster Club,, 2019 to Present
- Certified, Limited Assistance Representation Program with the Hampden County Probate and Family Court, 2009 to Present
- Trustee, Elms College, 2016 to Present
- Chair, Elms College, Buildings and Grounds Committee, 2018 to Present
- Member, Elms College, Executive Committee, 2018 to Present
Classes & Seminars
- Contributor, Family Law Bits
- “Health Insurance as a Post-Divorce Issue, ” Family Law Bits
- “Paying Child Support While Receiving SSDI,” Family Law Bits
- “Separation Agreements: The Significance of Legalese...” Family Law Bits
- Lecturer, Agawam Town Council, 2008
Professional Associations
- Hampden County Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Real Estate Bar Association
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts Notary Public
- Senior Partners for Justice Pro Bono Alliance, Member
- Civility Standards sub-committee, Hampden County Bar, Member
- Magistrate Protocol sub-committee, Hampden County Bar, Member
- Court Conciliation Program, Hampden County Bar, Member
- Human Rights Committee, The Association for Community Living, Member, 2009 to 2014
- Women’s Business Owners Alliance of Pioneer Valley, Member, 2009 to Present
- Women’s Partnership – Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, Inc., Member, 2009 to Present
- Daisy Girl Scout Troop 557, Girl Scouts of America, Founder and Leader, 2008 to Present
- Volunteer, Dial-A-Lawyer, 2008 to 2008
- Volunteer, Walk for Autism
- Member, Smart Start Preschool Parent Activity Board
Honors
- Quoted: "I Don't, Anymore...Divorces Increasing Among Midlife" Prime Magazine, February 2014
- Certified Mediator
- Recipient, Distinguished Academic Achievement Awards in Bankruptcy & Representing Clients
- Recipient, Excellence in Clinical Workaround Award
- Recipient, Tax Litigation Award
Published Works
- It’s that Time of Year Again: Careful Review, Renegotiation of Your Child’s IEP is Critical, Healthcare News, March 1, 2014
- Is This the Time to Fight? When Divorce Is Complicated by Serious Medical Concerns, August 1, 2013
- Custody of a Special-needs Child: Sometimes, It’s Better to Focus on Quality Parent Time, Not Quantity, April 1, 2013
- Oh Dear, College is Here! - How can I get my Ex to Help Pay?, August 27, 2012
- Insurance and Autistic Children: Update to ARICA Is Changing the Picture for Many Families, April 1, 2012
- A Time for Change: Measure Reforming Alimony Is Certainly History in the Making, March 12, 2012
- Transitional Planning in Special Ed: Start Early When Determining and Preparing for Life After School, December 1, 2011
- For Good Measure Autism Insurance Legislation: What It Means for Your Child, August 1, 2011
- Special Education What Every Parent Should Know About Their Child’s IEP, March 1, 2011
- Developmental Delay or Disability? Making Early Identification of Your Child’s Special Needs, January 31, 2011
- Special-education Assessment and the IEP - A Chance for You to Advocate for Your Child, July 10, 2010
- Ten reasons to hire a lawyer for domestic-relations proceedings, April 27, 2009
- Lecturer, Rebuilding Support Group, Southwick, MA, February, 2014