Melissa A. Little, an associate in Blankingship & Keith, PC’s Education Law and Litigation practices, has been selected for inclusion in the National Black Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers in Virginia.

The National Black Lawyers is a professional and educational organization of the nation’s premier African American attorneys. The selection for this high honor is based on a multi-phase process that includes peer nominations and third-party research. The result is a credible and comprehensive list of the most-outstanding African American lawyers in the country.

Membership in the Top 100 Lawyers is by invitation only and is limited to 100 attorneys in each state or region who have demonstrated excellence and achieved outstanding leadership results in their legal careers. The National Black Lawyers group provides essential legal news, information and continuing education to African American attorneys.

Little is an active member of the American Bar Association (ABA). Most recently Little authored a resolution and report encouraging additional in-school supports for children experiencing race-based trauma, which the ABA adopted as policy. Little has also served as a board member of Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference (VSB YLC). The ABA Young Lawyers Division and the VSB YLC have honored Little for her service to the bar and the community. In 2018, Little was the recipient of the R. Edwin Burnette, Jr. Young Lawyer of the Year Award.

Little was appointed to the City of Alexandria Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission as a community member. In this role, she worked with the City of Alexandria, Alexandria City Public Schools, and related public and private entities to ensure that the City was meeting the needs of its youth and their families.

Little received her law degree from the University of Akron School of Law. While in law school, she served as an Assistant Editor of the Akron Law Review and clerked for a judge of the Akron Municipal Court. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Albany, where she graduated summa cum laude.

Based in Fairfax, Virginia, Blankingship & Keith, PC is a regional law firm with 40 lawyers that serves clients throughout Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth.