In her youth Melody loved public speaking, theatre and writing, which drew her to law. At university she was a top academic student who won awards and graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction at the age of 20. She scored in the 98th percentile on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and received an entrance scholarship to the University of Toronto Law School.
At the University of Toronto, Melody joined a new program to study for a Master’s Degree in Social Work at the same time as her Law degree. She was the first graduate of the combined LL.B./MSW program. Melody’s classmates elected her to be Co-Chair of the Students’ Council at the Faculty of Social Work and also elected her to receive the Outstanding Extra-Curricular Achievement award. She won academic prizes and distinctions at both the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Work while volunteering for the Law Review and completing practicums at a psychiatric hospital, a legal clinic for youth, and an inquest. She also worked as a research assistant in Law and Economics, as a teaching assistant for undergraduate criminology courses, and in a summer writing fellowship.
Melody won admission to Harvard Law School where she graduated with a Master’s degree in Law. She was also selected from the top law students nationally for a clerkship at the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa.
Melody finished her articles and worked as criminal defense lawyer in downtown Vancouver, before moving to the Fraser Valley where she also prosecuted federal offenses as an Agent for the Department of Justice. She then worked in the field of civil litigation, primarily personal injury (motor vehicle accidents). She practiced law in the Lower Mainland for 18 years at law firms from Vancouver to Chilliwack before moving to the Okanagan.
Melody has extensive experience in Court, mediation and settlement negotiations and office law practice. Her sense of humour defuses difficult situations. She is known for being warm, approachable and caring, very easy to talk with. She plans strategically and protects her clients’ interests with confidence. Her law firm’s values are recovery and justice.
Martin Estate and Injury Law is one of the largest law firms in the North Okanagan.
Melody is a Past President of the Vernon Women in Business group and she is a strong supporter of small and local businesses. She is known as a mentor for young people who are considering going into law. Outside of work, she is a hockey fan (even though the Canucks have been hard to watch sometimes) and enjoys swimming, driving trips within the beautiful Okanagan, exploring local restaurants, watching HGTV,following the news, and spending time with her dogs.
Education
Master of Law (LL.M.), Harvard University
Master of Social Work (M.S.W.), University of Toronto
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), University of Toronto
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Queen’s University