Melinda C. Ghilardi

Melinda Ghilardi is a trial lawyer with nearly 40 years of experience. Prior to joining Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, Melinda worked with the Federal Defender’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania for over three decades. Melinda began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County.

Honors and Awards

• Best Lawyers, 2024-25
• Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2022-24
• Lackawanna Pro Bono, Robert W. Munley Distinguished Service Award, 2016
• Athena Award, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, 2005
• Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession, Lynette Norton Award, 2004
• Scranton-Pocono Council, Girl Scouts of America, Woman of Distinction, 2000
• University of Scranton, Frank J. O’Hara Alumni Award, 2000

Education

• The University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Juris Doctor
• The University of Scranton, Bachelor of Science, Public Administration, magna cum laude

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• District of Columbia
• Supreme Court of the United States
• Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association:
  • Board of Governors
    • Unit County Governor 2019 – 2022
    • Woman Governor 2012 – 2015
  • Bar Leadership Institute
    • Co-Chair 2016 – 2019
  • Commission on Women in the Profession
    • Executive Council 2006 – present
    • Co-Chair 2010 – 2012
    • Secretary 2003 – 2004
  • House of Delegates, Zone Five
  • House of Delegates, Committee on Credentials and Admissions
  • Federal Practice Committee, Co-Vice Chair
  • Pennsylvania Bar Foundation
• American Association for Justice
  • Insurance Law Section, Business Interruption Task Force
  • Nursing Home Litigation Group
  • Women Trial Lawyers Caucus
• Melvin M. Belli Society, 2019 – present
• Pennsylvania Association for Justice
  • Auto Law Section
  • Women Leaders Section
  • PA Judicial PAC
• Lackawanna Bar Association
  • President, 2004
• Lackawanna Bar Foundation, Vice President
• Association of Women Lawyers of Lackawanna County, Treasurer
• National Association of Federal Defenders, Secretary

Presentations and Speaking Engagements

• Speaker, “How to Win Friends and Persuade Juries,” United States District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania 2024 Bench/Bar Conference, October 2024.
• Speaker, “Personal Injury Law Conference 2023 – Civil Practice Primer,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, October 2023.
• Course Planner and Moderator, “Federal Practice Institute,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, October 2023
• Moderator, “WIP Report Card: What We’ve Learned in 30 Years,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, May 2023.
• Course Planner and Moderator, “Federal Practice Institute,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, October 2022.
• Speaker,  “Insurance Broker/Agent Liability,” AAJ Summer Convention, July 2022.
• Speaker, “State of Women in the Law in Pennsylvania: Lessons from Two Pennsylvania Initiatives to Track  Advance Women Leaders and Lawyers,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 2016.
• Course Planner, “Best Sentencing Practices in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Bar Association, Federal Practice Committee, October 2016.
• Participant, “Sentencing Strategy Session for Federal Public and Community Defenders (Restorative Justice, Challenging Relevant Conduct, Mental Health, Brainstorming Immigration Cases, Crimes of Violence/Violent Felonies, Consequences of Race, Ethnicity and Wealth Inequality, The Future of Sentencing),” Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Defender Service Office, Training Branch, September 2016
• Course Planner, “Federal Criminal Defense Training (Ethics, The Ins & Outs of Social Media Records, Sentencing Guidelines Update, Case Budgeting and Excess Compensation Cases, E-Voucher 101, Third Circuit Update & Practice Tips, Update on Johnson Litigation),” Federal Public Defender’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania, March 2016
• Presenter, “Impact and Preview of the Supreme Court of the United States on Federal Practice,” Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Summer Meeting, August 2015

Community

• Women’s Resource Center of Scranton, Barbara J. Hart Justice Center Legal Committee
• University of Scranton Panuska College of Professional Studies Board of Visitors
• University of Scranton Counseling and Human Services Advisory Committee
• Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, Board of Directors 2013-2019
• Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Circle 200 Forum for Senior Level Executive Women, Board of Directors