A message to the Class of 2025 from
Melanie Hicks, ASL Class of 2025 Valedictorian
J.D. | Certified Paralegal | Criminal Defense Advocate
Dear Fellow Graduates,
As we begin to celebrate this momentous occasion, I cannot help but reflect on our shared journey through the halls of ASL. We arrived as strangers, brought together by chance and perhaps a common dream, but we leave as colleagues bound by experiences only fellow law students can truly understand.
Remember those first days? The anxiety that gripped us during cold calls, wondering if we had adequately briefed the right case or if Professor Belleville would somehow sense we were unprepared. The countless hours in the library, fueled by too much coffee and not enough exercise, as we pored over case law, deciphering a language that seemed foreign at first but gradually became our own.
Through it all, we have gained more than just legal knowledge. We have internalized the fundamental principles that form the bedrock of our justice system: due process, equal protection, and constitutional rights. These are not merely academic concepts anymore—they have become the lens through which we now view the world and the tools we will use to shape it.
At ASL, we have acquired the knowledge to be successful, but more importantly, we have developed the insight to make meaningful changes in our communities. Whether you are heading to a prestigious firm, a public defender’s office, a government position, or back to your hometown to serve the people who raised you, each of us now has the ability to help people wherever we go.
The Appalachian region has been our home during these transformative years, teaching us about resilience, community, and the real-world impact of the legal principles we have studied. This place has left its mark on us, just as I hope we will leave our mark on the world. May we always look back on our time at ASL as a valuable part of our journey—not just for what we learned from our professors, but for what we learned from each other. The late-night study sessions, the heated debates, the moments of clarity when a difficult concept finally made sense, and even the shared stress of exam periods—all of these experiences have shaped us into the lawyers we are today.
As we go our separate ways, remember that we are united by this common bond. The friendships forged in the crucible of law school do not easily break. They strengthen over time, becoming professional relationships that will sustain us throughout our careers.
Best wishes for success and happiness in your future endeavors. May you advocate fiercely, judge wisely, and never forget the responsibility that comes with the privilege of practicing law.
With gratitude and pride,
Melanie Hicks
Class of 2025
Appalachian School of Law
About Melanie:
A native of West Virginia, Melanie began her legal career in 1994 with an associate degree in Paralegal Studies. She became a Certified Paralegal in 2010 and earned an advanced certification in criminal defense in 2018. In 2022, she completed a Regents Bachelor of Arts at Concord University before entering ASL.
She founded Paralegal Solutions LLC in 2008 and worked as a freelance paralegal for over a decade, providing litigation support, real estate work, and contract review. She currently plans to return to Robert Dunlap, Esquire, PLLC to practice criminal defense, civil litigation, family law, and real estate.
Melanie is also co-owner of L & T Enterprises, Inc., an auto diesel repair shop in Beckley, WV, and is a proud mother and grandmother devoted to both her family and the Appalachian community.
