Melisa Azak

Education

• University of Richmond School of Law Richmond, VA
  • Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, May 2022
    • Manuscripts Editor, Journal of Law & Technology.
    • Memberships: American Constitution Society; Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Inn of Court; Omicron Delta Kappa, National Leadership
    • Honor Society; Phi Delta Phi.
    • Semifinalist, 2020 Barnett Moot Court Competition; Vice President, Moot Court Board.
    • Semifinalist, 2020 Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition; Member, ADR Board.
    • Winner, 2019 Inter-Scholastic Trial Advocacy Competition; Treasurer, Trial Advocacy Board.
    • Winner, 2019 Client Counseling & Negotiation Board (CCNB) Competition; Member, CCNB.
• American University Washington, DC
  • Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society, May 2016
    • Politics, Policy, and Law Scholar (2013–2016).
    • Captain (2013–2016), Mock Trial Team. Placed third in the national competition in 2016; won seven individual top-attorney awards.

Professional Experience

• Commonwealth Law Group Richmond, VA
  • Associate (pending VA licensure): August 2022-Present
    • Represents plaintiffs in various civil rights and personal injury lawsuits
• Magistrate Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes, United States District Court Eastern District of Virginia Richmond, VA
  • Legal Intern: September-November 2021
    • Drafted memoranda for settlement conferences and conducted legal research for ongoing cases.
• Rawls Law Group Richmond, VA
  • Legal Intern: May-August 2021
    • Drafted complaints and claims on behalf of veterans harmed by healthcare providers in suits arising under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
• University of Richmond School of Law Richmond, VA
  • Technology Assistant: August-December 2020
    • Assisted professors in classrooms daily with setting up and troubleshooting technology required for remote learning.
  • Research Assistant
    • Researched topics in environmental law for and prepared for publication articles authored by Professor Noah M. Sachs, Director, Robert R. Merhige Jr. Center for Environmental Studies.
• Fredericksburg Public Defender’s Office Fredericksburg, VA
  • Legal Intern: June-August 2020
    • Assisted mentor attorney in court daily with client communications, bond hearings, motions practice, and trials.
• O’Melveny & Myers LLP Washington, DC
  • Project Assistant: October 2017-July 2019
    • Served on trial teams for a multi-billion-dollar media merger and a historic public nuisance case concerning the opioid pandemic in Oklahoma; assisted in preparing witnesses, reviewed litigation documents, and provided support in the courtroom in trials.
• Cuneo, Gilbert & LaDuca LLP Washington, DC
  • Chief Paralegal: April 2016-September 2017
• United States Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Branch Washington, DC
  • Paralegal Specialist (Student in Training): December 2014–April 201