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Melissa Antonio

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  • Associate

Location:

Torrington, CT

Phone:

Fax:

860-489-6306

Email:

Attorney Melissa A. Antonio joins The Law Offices of Conti, Levy, Salerno & Antonio, LLC as a licensed attorney with twenty-six years' experience with the Judicial System, fifteen as a practicing attorney. She earned her B.S. in Sociology from Sacred Heart University and her J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 2003. Attorney Antonio is a member of the American Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Litchfield County Bar Association.

She graduated Quinnipiac University School of Law with her Juris Doctorate degree with specialized concentrations in Juvenile Law, Family Law, Constitutional and Health Law where she was the Dean's Scholarship recipient for the years of 1999 through 2001. She was a member of the Constitution Committee, the Latin American Law Students' Association, Black Law Students' Association, and served as a Senator of the Student Bar Association. Attorney Antonio received her Bachelor of Science in Sociology degree from Sacred Heart University where she graduated cum laude. She was inducted into the National Criminal Justice Honor Society in 1996. She was the Chairperson for Sacred Heart University's First Annual Criminal Justice Job Fair in 1997 uniting potential graduates with various criminal justice national and local organizations. She was recognized as a Dean's Scholar and National Scholar from 1995 to 1998.

Attorney Antonio began her illustrious career with the Judicial System in 1991 as a Court Services Clerk managing criminal and civil matters for Norwalk Superior Court G.A#20. From here she served as a Law Clerk for The Antonio & Coppola Law Firm supervising paralegal staff and collectors. In 2002 she became a Clerk for the Middlesex Judicial Court serving the Part A Criminal, Attorney General, Regional Family Trial Docket, Family and Family Support Magistrate Courts. She served as a Law Clerk to various prestigious Judges of the Superior Court bench during her service. Attorney Antonio began representing clients as a Deputy Assistant Public Defender for the New Haven, Rockville, and Middlesex Judicial District Courts. She then went on to serve the community as a Special Deputy Assistant State's Attorney.

During her time as a Prosecutor she expanded her dedication to the classroom serving as a Criminal Justice Professor for Lincoln College of New England, formerly Briarwood College. Here she taught Introduction to Corrections, Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Delinquency, Corrections and Criminal Law.

Attorney Antonio has served the Judicial Department as a District Liaison, is co-founder of BLAKE.org an organization dedicated to Broadening Leniency for Autism Knowledge Everywhere, served as a board member for various charitable organizations such as The Antonio Equinox Annual Holiday (featured in Town and Country Magazine), Easter Seal Goodwill Industries, facilitated "Hannah's Dream" a park dedicated to equally challenged and able-bodied children's play located in New Haven, CT, and Y-ME of Connecticut dedicated to the support and research for breast cancer. Melissa is also a member of FISH.

Areas of Practice

  • Family Law 80%
  • Criminal, Motor Vehicle, Juvenile Law 20%

Bar Admissions

  • Connecticut, 2003

Education

  • Quinnipiac University School of Law, Hamden, Connecticut
    • J.D. - 2001
    • Honors: Dean's List, 1999 - 2001
    • Honors: Constitution Committee, Member
    • Honors: Latin American Law Students' Association, Member
    • Honors: Black Law Students' Association, Member
    • Honors: Student Bar Association, Senator
  • Sacred Heart University, Fairfield
    • B.S. - 1998
    • Honors: cum laude
    • Honors: Dean's List
    • Honors: National Criminal Justice Honor Society, 1996
    • Honors: Sacred Heart University's First Annual Criminal Justice Job Fair, Chairperson, 1997
    • Honors: National Scholar, 1995 - 1998
    • Major: Sociology/Criminology

Classes/ Seminars

  • Introduction to Corrections, Briarwood College, 2010 to 2013
  • Juvenile Justice, Briarwood College, 2010 to 2013
  • Juvenile Delinquency, Briarwood College, 2010 to 2013
  • Corrections, Briarwood College, 2010 to 2013
  • Criminal Law, Briarwood College, 2010 to 2013
  • Criminal Justice Professor, Lincoln College, New England

Honors and Awards

  • Dean's Scholar
  • National Criminal Justice Honor Society
  • Dean's Scholar
  • National Scholar

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Litchfield County Bar, Member, 2018 to Present
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Member, 2018 to Present
  • American Bar Association, Member, 2018 to Present
  • Litchfield County Women’s Bar Association, Member, 2018 to Present

Past Employment Positions

  • ST of CT Division of Criminal Justice, Sp. Deputy Asst States Attorney, 2004 to 2015
  • ST of CT Judicial Department, Clerk, 1991 to 2018
  • Norwalk Superior Court G.A#20, Court Services Clerk
  • The Antonio & Coppola Law Firm, Law Clerk
  • Middlesex Judicial Court, Clerk
  • New Haven District Court, Deputy Assistant Public Defender
  • Rockville District Court, Deputy Assistant Public Defender
  • Middlesex Judicial District Court, Deputy Assistant Public Defender
  • Special Deputy Assistant State's Attorney

Pro Bono Activities

  • BLAKE.org, Co-Founder
  • The Antonio Equinox Annual Holiday, Board Member
  • Easter Seal Goodwill Industries, Board Member
  • Hannah's Dream
  • FISH

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Fraternities/ Sororities

  • Alpha Phi Sigma