Melissa N. Hawkins

I spent my summers as a child in Phenix City, Alabama with my grandma.  We would play Gin Rummy and watch C-Span all day long.  When I was young, my grandmother instilled in me a sense of community responsibility.  She constantly emphasized the importance of education, participating in the democracy and being of service to my fellow human beings. 

One of four siblings, my grandmother was born on October 13, 1916.  Her father was a reverend and stressed the importance of education.  Despite the racial inequality and injustice during her youth, my grandmother finished high school, earned a degree from Savannah State University, and received her teaching certificate.  She taught the fifth grade for 35 years.  She demanded success from me. 

I went to college to pursue a career in government.  During college, I had the opportunity to work as a page for the Democratic Caucus of the Ohio House of Representatives and intern for Senator Mike DeWine.  In my sophomore year I took the career-altering class constitutional law.  I discovered a new passion for the power of the law.  After falling in love with the ideals of the law, I was determined to go to law school.

Keeping in line with my grandmother’s teachings, I originally went to law school to become a public defender.  I planned to fight for the rights of indigent people who could not afford legal representation.  After my first year of law school while at my summer clerkship I had a startling realization.  While I immensely enjoyed the subject matter, I was not emotionally strong enough to handle a career in criminal defense.  I thought desperately about my future.  Defeated, I evaluated why I wanted to practice criminal law.  I reflected back to summers with my grandmother and was reminded that my true passion was service.  After a lot of research, I discovered the public finance practice.  In my practice as an attorney with Peck, Shaffer & Williams, I help governments, including counties, townships, school districts, cities and villages, borrow money for public projects.  My practice is composed of writing and reviewing contracts, preparing and giving presentations, and advocating for my clients in front of public bodies.  I truly enjoy the practice of public finance and I perform a valuable public service. 

My grandmother introduced me to community service and I still maintain that dedication today.  In addition to my practice, I’ve served on the Board of Directors for The Healthcare Connection, the Cincinnati Bar Association/Young Lawyer’s Section and the Boone County, Kentucky Tax Board.