Melissa Winecki is an experienced paralegal at SGGH with over a decade of experience assisting lawyers in their management of high-stakes, bet-the-company cases. Prior to her work at SGGH, Melissa served as a paralegal at the Chicago law firm of Patton & Ryan, LLC, where she played a key role in the preparation of trials across the United States involving personal injury, medical malpractice, workplace injury, and property defects.   

But while the majority of her thirteen-year experience lies in the defense aspect of the law, Melissa’s paralegal career began in 2011 as an intern, and later volunteer, at the Law Center for Better Housing (formerly Lawyer’s Committee for Better Housing). There, she assisted in the defense of low-income tenants who were facing eviction. She also assisted in LCBH’s Tenants in Foreclosure Intervention Project by preparing maps and reports regarding properties throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods that faced the risk of foreclosure.

Melissa relishes the opportunity to get back to her roots assisting and advocating for survivors of catastrophic personal injuries and sexual abuse at SGGH. Her extensive knowledge of the court system and unique perspective from working on the defense of litigation makes her an invaluable and integral member of the SGGH team.

Melissa has a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan, and an Associate’s of Applied Science in Paralegal from Wilbur Wright College in her hometown of Chicago.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys exercising, whether it be in the gym after work, or going on long walks around the Jefferson Park and Norwood Park neighborhoods. On weekends, she loves to game with her long-time partner and friends. She is also an avid music lover, especially classic rock.