Yolanda Melville

Yolanda N. Melville is a Partner in the firm and member of Cooper Levenson's Land Use, Zoning and Planning, Education/School Law, and Cannabis practice groups. Yolanda works on various land use issues, including commercial development, redevelopment, real estate, affordable housing and litigation. Yolanda also assists the Education Law Department in the defense of claims of violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, as well as federal litigation matters, including alleged civil rights and IDEA violations. She is based in the firm's Atlantic City office.

Yolanda attended The College of William and Mary where she graduated with a dual degree in English and Government. Yolanda also earned a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law. During her law school tenure, Yolanda served as Managing Editor of the Human Rights and Globalization Law Review and as a Fair Housing Clinic student attorney. Yolanda was later selected as a 2011 Kellogg's Law Fellow for the NAACP Office of General Counsel, where she worked on national civil rights issues and participated in discussion panels throughout the country.

Upon completion of her education, Yolanda clerked for the Honorable Susan F. Maven, J.A.D., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. Yolanda formerly served as Democracy Counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice in New York City and worked as an Associate Attorney for Bisgaier Hoff, LLC in Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Professional Associations and Memberships

Yolanda has many credentials and association affiliations:

• Admitted to practice in New Jersey
• Admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
• Admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court
• Member, Atlantic County Bar Association
• Member, Young Lawyers' Division, Atlantic County Bar Association
• Member, Camden County Bar Association
• Member, New Jersey State Bar Association
• Member, SoPro, AC
• Member, AtlantiCare Young Professionals
• Member, New Jersey Builders Association
• Member, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
• Member, New Jersey Apartment Association (NJAA)
• Member, Greater Atlantic City Chamber

Awards and Honors

Yolanda has been honored with many awards for her work:

• Top 40 Under 40 Honoree 2018, AC Weekly & Atlantic City Jaycees
• Black Girls Rock (Jersey Style) Award, In My CARE Mentoring Program
• Resolution of Recognition, City Council of the City of Atlantic City
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Champion for Justice" Honoree, 2019 New Jersey State Governor's Jefferson Awards

Community Involvement

Yolanda is very active in the community:

• President, NAACP NextGen Alumni Leadership Council
• Appointed by Chairman Leon W. Russell to the Legal Committee of the NAACP National Board of Directors
• Panelist, 108th NAACP Annual Convention’s Continuing Legal Education Program
• Board Member, Atlantic County Coalition for a Safe Community

Videos

See a clip of Yolanda Melville and New Jersey Interagency Task Force Roundtable here.

Education

Yolanda attended The College of William and Mary where she graduated in 2007 with a dual degree in English and Government. Yolanda also earned a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law in 2012.