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Melissa Lewis is a seasoned negotiator, mediator, and attorney. After branching out as a corporate counsel and solo attorney, she has applied her counseling skills and legal knowledge from her experience as an associate attorney with a rural law firm practicing in a wide range of areas, including general practice, corporate, criminal, disability, estate planning and probate, family and divorce, guardianship, juvenile, municipal, property, and small claims.
Melissa has represented both hearing and deaf clients and is able to communicate in English and sign language, allowing her to effectively serve both communities. She was born with a 95% hearing loss in both ears and brings a unique perspective to legal matters involving communication accessibility.
She has a strong understanding of issues that commonly arise between the hearing and deaf communities in legal settings, including interactions between law enforcement and individuals who are deaf. Due to ongoing demand for her services in this area during her time as corporate counsel, Melissa opened her own law practice to continue working with both communities to address their legal needs.
Professional Background & Experience
Melissa’s legal experience spans multiple practice areas, allowing her to approach disputes with a broad and well-rounded perspective. Her background in both corporate counsel and private practice enables her to evaluate legal issues from multiple angles and guide parties toward resolution.
Education & Multidisciplinary Expertise
Melissa holds a B.S. in dietetics with honors from Iowa State University and a M.S. in sports nutrition and wellness with honors from Illinois State University. She is also a registered dietitian (R.D.) and has experience as a clinical dietitian and adjunct professor.
She earned her J.D. from the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law. After relocating to her hometown in Iowa, she passed the bar exam in 2008 and is licensed to practice in the State of Iowa.
Professional Involvement & Certifications
Melissa holds a mediation certificate and is on the family law mediator roster for the 5th District of Iowa. She is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association, the Guthrie County Bar Association (where she serves as treasurer), and the Iowa Young Lawyers Division of the Iowa State Bar Association.
She has also served as a council member of the Iowa Dual Relay Council with the Iowa Utilities Board and as a board member of Deaf Iowans Against Abuse.
Mediation Focus
As a mediator, Melissa is frequently selected to handle civil litigation, employment and labor matters, contract disputes, corporate matters, criminal law issues, disability-related cases, and juvenile matters. Her diverse legal background allows her to approach disputes with flexibility and adaptability.
Her ability to communicate directly with both hearing and deaf individuals provides a unique advantage in facilitating clear communication and effective resolution in matters involving accessibility considerations.
Melissa is available to mediate matters throughout Iowa.
Representative Matters Include:
- Civil litigation and general legal disputes
- Employment and labor law matters
- Contract and corporate disputes
- Criminal and juvenile law cases
- Disability-related and accessibility-focused legal matters
Ideal Cases for Mediation:
- Disputes involving communication accessibility considerations
- Civil and employment-related matters
- Contract and corporate disputes
- Cases involving diverse or multi-faceted legal issues
- Pre-suit, active litigation, or court-referred mediation
Melissa Lewis is a mediator frequently selected for civil, employment, and accessibility-related disputes, offering a unique ability to bridge communication gaps and guide parties toward effective resolution.