Attorney Mark Melrose has more than 33 years of experience practicing law in western North Carolina. He brings to the firm a wealth of expertise in many areas of litigation. He has spent his professional career representing clients in state and federal courts with a primary focus on personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. He also has a wealth of experience in general civil litigation, estate litigation, and appellate work.
He has represented clients in every level of the North Carolina court system including arguments to the North Carolina Supreme Court. He has also tried cases in Federal Court, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and briefed cases to the United States Supreme Court.
With a zealous commitment to his clients, he is well known in western North Carolina for his ethical and relentless pursuit of justice and fair compensation for his clients. From motor vehicle collisions to high-profile civil rights lawsuits, he will advocate tirelessly for fair settlements and favorable jury verdicts when necessary.
Mr. Melrose has many professional awards and has spoken regularly at continuing education seminars throughout North Carolina. He is a former Board of Governors member for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. He has devoted many years of time volunteering for the North Carolina Mock Trial competitions for high school students.
Melrose Law also has an excellent experienced support staff, including board-certified paralegals to assist Mr. Melrose in all phases of litigation and settlements.
Mr. Melrose began his education at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1985. He completed his education at the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill in 1989, earning a Juris Doctor degree. Since being admitted to the Bar in North Carolina in 1990, he has twice been honored with the Pro Bono Service Award for the 30th Judicial District, once in 1992 and again in 1998. He has served as chairman of the District’s Pro Bono Committee and been a member of the Lawyer-Pilot Bar Association. He is a past president of the Jackson/Swain County Bar Association.
In addition to his trial work, Mr. Melrose has conducted numerous highly acclaimed seminars and presentations on a variety of topics, including “Case Selection and Management – How to Sleep Better, Retire Earlier and Live Longer,” “Attorney’s Fees,” “The Trial Process and Jury Selection,” “Defending Your Client against Efforts to Get His Mental Health Records,” “Risk Management for Outdoor Educators,” “Advanced Directives for Health Care Professionals,” and on “October seventh, 2006 at Haywood Community College for Medical Technicians: Malpractice and risk management in the Physician’s Office.”
A consummate, highly respected professional, Mr. Melrose is also a published author. He wrote and published his first novel for young adult readers entitled “Take A Chance” dedicated to his son, Adam. Adam has now become an attorney and practices with Melrose Law. It is a story about a father and son, faith, and summer camp.
Married for 36 years, he has four children and is active in the community. He has coached youth soccer teams with each of his four children.
He is a fisherman, avid general aviation private pilot, hiker, kayaker, writer, speaker, and advocate for public schools.
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina, 1990
- U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina, 1994
- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2016
- United States Supreme Court, 2017
- Oral arguments before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, North Carolina Supreme Court, and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
Education
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, (J.D. 1990)
- Western Carolina University, (B.S. 1985) Summa Cum Laude
Selected Published Works
- Surviving a Solo Practice, N.C. Bar Journal, Winter, 1996
Selected Publications/Classes/Seminars
- Surviving a Solo Practice, N.C. Bar Journal, Winter, 1996
- Presentation: How to Take the Treating Doctor’s Deposition: From Start to Finish May 2019
- Invited Speaker: Career Day Junaluska Elementary School October 2017
- Seminar: to WNC Legal Aid attorneys pursuant to Private Attorney’s Initiative: Pre-trial discovery and procedures; practical tips, June 2016
- Presentation: Western Carolina University Criminal Justice Forum, “Real Life Perspective of Capital Trials From Prosecution and Defense” (Co-presented with Assistant District Attorney Jim Moore) (2013)
- Presentation: “Defending your Client Against Efforts to get his Mental Health Records”, (1999)
- Seminar: Risk Management for Outdoor Educators, Christian Wilderness Leadership Council (1996, 1997)
- Seminar: Advanced Directives for Health Care Professionals, Harris Regional Hospital, 1997
- Seminar: How we Defended this Case
- Seminars: Case Selection and Management – How to Sleep Better, Retire Earlier and Live Longer
- Seminar: The Trial Process and Jury Selection
- Presentation: Malpractice and Risk Management in the Physician’s Office, Haywood Community College for Medical Technicians, July 10, 2006 – Present
- Presentation to Civics Class at Tuscola High School on the fundamental principles of fairness and justice in the American legal system.
Past Honors and Awards
- Recipient Pro Bono Service Awards for 30th Judicial District
- District’s Pro Bono Committee, Chairman
- Order of the Coif Service Awards, North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- Capital Defender Advisory Committee
- Lawyers Mutual Community Board Member
- North Carolina Advocates For Justice Board of Governors
- Best Lawyers honoree (bestlawyers.com)
- Super Lawyers honoree (superlawyers.com)
Professional Associations and Memberships (past & present)
- Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company Western Carolina Community Board member (September 2015 – present)
- North Carolina High School Mock Trial Competition, Western Regional Coordinator, 1994 – 2020
- Member Board of Directors nonprofit Kory Wawanaca Children’s Home (Helped create professional Board to oversee amazing ministry to orphans and neglected children in Bolivia) (2012-2015)
- Southwestern Community College Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Board Member
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Legal Services Committee
- Mountain Dispute Settlement Center, Inc., Member Board of Directors
- Mountain Dispute Settlement Center, Inc., Vice President
- 30th Judicial District Fee Arbitration Committee, Fee Arbitrator
- REACH (Center for domestic violence survivors), Member Board of Directors
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice, President’s Club
- American Association for Justice, Member
- North Carolina Bar Association, Member
- Lawyer-Pilot Bar Association, Member
- Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association, Member
- Jackson/Swain County Bar Association, past President
- Jackson County Citizens Advisory Committee, Member, 2006
