Melissa Woods
With over two decades of legal experience, Melissa Woods currently is Of Counsel at Jackson Lewis P.C., a national law firm with more than 1,000 attorneys. Melissa manages complex litigation cases and serves as advice and counsel advocate for clients in the area of employment law. In addition to her work at the firm, she has been seconded to provide specialized services a nationwide logistics company, a multinational doughnut company.
Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Melissa, held senior legal roles at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the Charlotte City Attorney’s Office, and the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office. Melissa also worked as an Associate Professor of Law at the Charlotte School of Law teaching Legal Writing, Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiations, and Advanced Criminal Procedure.
A graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill law School and North Carolina Central, where she earner a BA in English literature, Melissa has served on the Board of the Mecklenburg County Bar as an appointed Bar Councilor for the North Carolina State Bar. She has presented CLEs at national, state, and local conferences in the areas of ethics, trial skills, and negotiation.
When not working, she is navigating the adventure of raising a spirited pre-teen daughter.