Melissa Deleon

Melissa Deleon has spent her legal career representing victims of injuries and wrongful death, including advocating for developmentally disabled individuals who have been victims of caretaker abuse and neglect. Since her admission to the State Bar of California, she has handled an extensive caseload and secured optimal settlements on behalf of her clients in personal injury cases. She has gained valuable trial experience in the areas of personal injury and employment law.

Deleon is the president of the Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego, an organization that seeks to advance Filipino-American and Asian Pacific American legal professionals and advocate for the Filipino-American community. As president, she has made it her goal to increase the organization’s community service efforts.

This year, Deleon organized Community Law School, a monthly program co-sponsored by FALSD that offers free legal educational seminars to the public. In addition, she coordinated a year-long book drive and fundraiser to benefit BKP-California, a nonprofit organization that builds libraries and promotes literacy in poverty-stricken areas in the Philippines. Deleon also serves on the board of directors of Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego and mentors law students through PALSD’s mentorship program.

Deleon frequently gives lectures to law students and recently organized and moderated a seminar giving guidance and tips for a successful first year in practice. As a result of her student outreach efforts and commitment to diversity, she was asked to speak about the importance of diversity in the legal profession at University of San Diego School of Law’s annual diversity banquet.  

This year, Deleon became a member of Girls Think Tank, an organization dedicated to homeless advocacy. Deleon volunteers her time feeding the homeless with GTT and has volunteered at Stand Down, providing pro bono legal services to homeless veterans.

Deleon is a member of Lawyers Club of San Diego, San Diego County Bar Association and Filipino American Chamber of Commerce. A dedicated trial lawyer, she is a graduate of the San Diego Inns of Court Trial Advocacy College and a member of Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. Deleon is a San Diego native, earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University in 2007 and law degree from California Western School of Law in 2010. She was previously recognized by The Daily Transcript as a top young attorney in 2011, after her first year in practice.