Melissa brings a broad professional background to her role as Partner of Longton Blackwell’s Queensland Criminal Law Practice. With qualifications in law, forensic accounting, business, and over two decades of experience across compliance, investigations, and risk management, as well as the last seven years operating her own law firm in Hervey Bay, she offers clients practical, well-rounded advice in criminal and traffic law matters – from summary offences to serious indictable offences.

Melissa started her career 22 years ago as a trainee receptionist for a national peak body organisation and was introduced to advocacy in this role, with the introduction of the anti-smoking legislation that was out for industry consultation at the time. She then went on to work for the Law Council of Australia in the Business Law Section, prior to enrolling in University to study a Bachelor of Business. During her studies she worked for large hotels and resorts as well as legal and accounting firms. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she was fortunate enough to be offered a graduate placement with the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In this role she worked in various areas of the organisation, including stakeholder engagement for statistical data collections as well as census compliance and prosecutions. This is where her passion for law really came to fruition, and she enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Legal Studies.

Following her Graduate year, she moved into a financial compliance role with a Department that is now under the APRA umbrella. She became the one of the youngest people at the time to complete the Company Directors Course and she leveraged her skills and passion to complete the Master of Forensic Accounting through an intensive two year course on weekends, and a Certificate IV in Investigations (Government).

The following 10 years of her career was spent consulting to the government in the areas of compliance, assurance and investigations. She spent three years of that consulting exclusively to the Anti-Dumping Commission as an Assistant Director of Investigations. She was also on the Boards of Advocacy for Inclusion and Diabetes ACT – both of which ignited her passion for advocacy. So, while she was working full-time, she was also completing a Juris Doctor from the University of Canberra at night and on weekends so that she could gain admission and begin grass roots advocacy work.

Upon her admission, she made the move to Hervey Bay, Queensland, where she purchased a Firm and undertook her supervision requirements before becoming the Legal Practitioner Director. As the LPD of a regional firm she has assisted clients in all areas of the Law, but her particular passion remained in criminal law advocacy. She has represented over 400 clients in Magistrates Court and District Court criminal matters as well as instructing on a number of trials in the District Court.  She has made the move to Brisbane to focus exclusively on Criminal Law practice, but will continue to help clients all over Queensland.

She takes pride in treating every client with respect and empathy, no matter the charge, and approaches each case with calm focus, strategic clarity, and genuine care.

On top of her career, Melissa is also the mother of four children. She has a passion for V8’s and spends her down time playing softball and golf when time permits. She is a Foodie that likes to adventure to new restaurants whenever possible.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor

Memberships:

• Member of the Queensland Law Society

Language: English

*Any reference to a “Partner” means an employee with sufficient seniority. Longton Blackwell is an incorporated legal practice and not a partnership.