Melissa's Achievements
Professional and Community Memberships and Associations:
2025 Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
2023 AV rated Martindale Hubbell
2023 – 2024 Immediate past President of South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
2022 – 2023 President of South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
2023 Benefactor, USD Scholarship Fund Class of 1999
2022 Platinum Fellow, South Dakota Bar Foundation
1999 – present South Dakota Bar Association, Member
1999 – present South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, Member
Early 2000’s and South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association (SDTLA) Board of Governors
2015 – present
2021 – present Awards Committee, SDTLA Board of Governors
2021 – present Legislative / PAC Committee, SDTLA Board of Governors
2021 – present Budget Committee, SDTLA Board of Governors
2023 Lobbyist Committee, SDTLA Board of Governors
2020 – 2022 South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association Mock Trial Participant
2015 Family Law Committee, South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
2015 – present Family Law Committee, South Dakota State Bar Association (Discontinued)
Past Bar Media Liaison, State Bar Committee Chairperson
Past Evidence Committee, State Bar
Early 2000’s Ask a Lawyer
1999 – present Second Circuit Bar Association
1999 – present Second Circuit Women in Law
CIVIC
2002 Leadership Sioux Falls Graduate
2000 South Dakota Senator Daschle’s Leader’s Retreat
PUBLICATIONS
2022-2023 Authored 4 President Messages for the SDTLA publication, The Barrister, in capacity as President, as well as President’s Message for website.
August 2022 Authored Prenuptial Agreements Legal Advice from Melissa Nicholson and Nicholson Law, SF Woman Publication
December 2020 Authored Wedding Financial Considerations, Unveiled Publication
PRESENTATIONS
June 2023 Facilitator/Moderator, SDTLA Annual Meeting
April 2023 Facilitator/Moderator, SDTLA Spring CLE
September 2022 Facilitator/ Moderator, SDTLA Fall CLE
2020 – 2022 USD Law School 1st year students – SDTLA Mock Trial participant
2000’s Guest Lecturer at USD Law School, Family Law presenter to the SD Practice Course
2000’s Family Law CLE organizer and presenter
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
2025 – 2026 Big Sioux Youth Basketball League Coach
2025 Sponsor YMCA Youth Basketball League
2025 Sponsor Harrisburg Baseball Association
2024 – 2025 Sponsor Journey Elementary Fun Run
2022 – 2023 Journey Elementary School PTO Volunteer
2020 – 2023 Sioux Falls Tennis Association – league participant
tournaments previously
2021 United States Tennis Association – participant
2010 – 2024 Avera McKennan Fitness Center and Fit Kids Member
2000 – 2010 YMCA Member and Benefactor
Early 2000’s Junior Achievement Volunteer and Math Teacher
Early 2000’s Penguins After Dark Volunteer Charity Fundraiser, Washington Pavilion
1999 – present United Way Contributor
Early 2000’s MS 150 Bike Ride – raising money for MS research – Participant at least 5 times
Early 2000’s 5K – Race for the Cure multiple times
Early 2000’s 5K – Harrisburg Days, Harrisburg, SD
2010 Brandon Doubles Tournament – raise money for Brandon Valley School Tennis Courts
PERSONAL ACTIVITIES
1992 Lincoln High School, Sioux Falls, SD
Women’s Varsity Basketball Team
Co-Captain/Starter
Unsung Hero
Tom Nicholson
Shane Vogt
Erica Stewart
