Melissa Arndell, Bourke Legal

Melissa (Mel) is a Director at Bourke Legal.

Mel graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) in 2009. She then worked in both the public and private sectors, including roles in administration and marketing at Ashurst, a top tier law firm based in Sydney.

After moving to regional New South Wales in 2012, Mel decided to become a Solicitor herself. She undertook her study while working as a Paralegal at a boutique personal injury law firm based in Orange. Mel graduated from the Legal Profession Admission Board in 2019 and was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in May 2020.

Following her admission, it became obvious to Mel that Plaintiff personal injury law was her passion. She represented many people injured at work, in motor vehicle accidents or on public premises and gained significant experience advocating for her clients in both the Personal Injury Commission and the District Court of New South Wales. “I enjoy listening to a client’s story and hearing about who they were before their injury and who they are now. With a full picture in my mind, I can then assist them to navigate this difficult chapter in their lives with calmness and compassion. I always want my clients to feel that someone is on their side.” Mel has a particular interest in assisting first responders, including those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”) navigate the Workers Compensation system.

Mel is a member of the NSW Law Society, the Central West Law Society and is an Independent Review Office (“IRO”) Approved Lawyer. In 2022, Mel was the winner of the NSW Law Society’s “Early Career Lawyer of the Year” Award. In 2023, she was named as a finalist, “Rising Star of the Year (Private Practice)” in the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards and a finalist, “Rising Star of the Year – SME Law” in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards.