Melissa
Tulis Smith

For this Raleigh native, becoming a lawyer was destined from an early age borne out of a natural gift for problem-solving. She pursued an undergraduate degree in philosophy, where she thrived in the realm of intellectual discourse and debate. She enjoyed tackling the usually ostentatious hypotheticals presented by her professors, honing her skills at testing theories or lines of logic through judicious analyses in the most extreme scenarios possible – skills that have proven invaluable to her effectiveness as a lawyer.

As an associate in the firm’s Consumer Collections practice group, Melissa assists a broad range of businesses through the rigorous stages of the collection litigation process, including pre-suit collection efforts, lawsuits, judgments, and executions. These matters often involve a myriad of moving parts – the assemblage of which must be precise and unblemished both in execution and completion. Hallmarks of Melissa’s client advocacy include her high level of preparedness and the efficiency to which she maximizes her time. Driven by innate optimism that a system can achieve excellence and efficiency through hard work and diligence, she strives to develop and maintain a level of candor with clients regarding all possible approaches to their legal matter. Clients know they can count on her to be informing and honest about their options and likely outcomes.

To her clients and colleagues alike, Melissa is known for her kindness and respect for others. Even in the face of adversity and aggression from an opposing party or counsel – her professionalism and grace never falter. Instead, she draws from wisdom earned at a young age, steadfast in the belief that only when you show kindness toward someone who disagrees with you, are you better positioned to understand their argument and articulate your own.

Licensed to practice law in North Carolina and South Carolina, Melissa received her J.D. from Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law and holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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