Melissa Morgan Lawyer

Bar Admissions/Association Memberships:

Missouri Bar Admitted October 4, 2006

Western District of Missouri –Federal Court Admitted October 12, 2006

St. Joseph Local Bar Association Member

Community Involvement:

The Junior League of St. Joseph

  • Community Research/Project Development Chair 2011-2012
  • Public Issues Co-Chair 2010-2011

Cotillion for Achievement Board Member

FamilyGuidanceCenter Board of Directors

St. Joseph Community Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention

Clean Air St. Joe Ambassador

Work Experience:

May 2009 – Present Legal Aid of Western Missouri St. Joseph, MO

Staff Attorney

  • United Way of Greater St. Joseph-Grant Attorney (October 2010-Present)
  • Family law matters and conduct the Pro Se Divorce Clinic
  • Utility assistance matters
  • Misc. matters for residence in need in Buchanan and AndrewCounties
  • Stop Violence Against Women Act-Grant Attorney (May 2009-October 2010)
  • Assisted victims of domestic violence and child abuse
  • Covered 18 county region of: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Daviess, Dekalb, Clinton, Livingston, Linn, Worth, Caldwell, Nodaway, Holt, Mercer, Grundy, Gentry, Sullivan, Putnam and Harrison Counties
  • Serve on several community agency committees
  • Provide training on legal issues to local agencies/advocates

August 2006 – September 2008Missouri Department of Revenue Jefferson City, MO

Legal Counsel

  • Attorney in the Income Tax Unit and cross trained in the Administrative Law Unit
  • Managed and litigated a caseload including withholding tax, corporate income tax, corporate franchise tax, institution franchise tax, and individual income tax disputes
  • Wrote private letter rulings for taxpayers in the state of Missouri and legal opinions to be used internally by the Department’s auditors and tax compliance unit
  • Reviewed Department contracts and bids for contractsServed on the Field Compliance Bureau work product committee
  • Advised on fiscal notes and new legislation implementation committees

Education:

University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO

Juris Doctorate

  • Graduation date: May 14, 2006
  • Honors:
  • Order of Barristers
  • Certificates, Scholarships and Activities:
  • Tax Certificate
  • Fred L Howard Prize for Excellence in the Advancement of Advocacy
  • Alumni Scholarship Recipient, John SublettLogan Foundation Law Scholarship
  • WLA BAR BRI Scholarship in Recognition of Service to the School and the Advancement of Women in the Law
  • Board of Advocates:
  • Executive Board member 2005-06
  • Judging Director 2005-06
  • Candidate for membership 2004-05
  • Assistant Judging Director 2004-05
  • Mock Trial Semi-Finals 2005 and 2006
  • Mediation Semi-finalist 2005 and 2006
  • LawSchool Ambassador
  • The Student Honor Code Committee
  • Women’s Law Association Member
  • 1L Representative
  • Auction Chair 2005-06
  • Student Outreach Committee
  • Deans’ Roundtable with Student Leaders
  • Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
  • Class Fund Steering Committee for the Class of 2006

Master in Business Administration

  • Graduation Date: May 16, 2003Cumulative GPA 3.5
  • Course Work Focus: Business Management, Planning, and Consulting
  • Honor and Activities:
  • MU MBA Association
  • Vice President 2002
  • Procurement Committee Chairman
  • John SublettLogan Foundation MBA Scholarship
  • MU Alumni Association Endowed Life Member
Bachelor of Arts & Science in Business
  • Major Concentration in Finance and Banking
  • Graduation Date: December 16, 2001
  • Honor and Activities:
  • Excellence Through Leadership Conference
  • Dean’s List of Honor-University of Missouri
  • Dean’s List of Honor- School of Business