Melanie Snyder J.D.

Program Coordinator and Professor, Legal Studies
Legal Studies | School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Education

  • J.D. University of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland, 1996, Magna Cum Laude.
  • B.A. English. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. 1992.

Professional Experience

Teaching Experience

  • Stevenson University, Owings Mills, Maryland
  • Professor, Legal Studies, spring 2011-present
  • Associate Professor, Legal Studies, spring 2008-spring 2011
  • Assistant Professor, Legal Studies, fall 2002-spring 2008
  • Adjunct Professor, Legal Studies, fall 2000-fall 2002
  • University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Adjunct Professor, Written and Oral Advocacy, spring 2012-present

Related Professional Experience

  • Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chartered Bethesda, Maryland
  • Associate, Litigation & Employment Divisions, August 1997-August 2000
  • Supervised and assisted litigation and employment law paralegals. Litigated cases in the areas of employment law, corporate law, family law, tort law, real estate law, and trusts and estates. Researched and drafted memorandum, briefs and motions. Attended and participated in depositions, hearings, pre-trial conferences and trials.

Publications

Publications and Presentations

  • Speaker, 30 Cool Things You Can Do in Class Right Now 2.0! AAfPE National Conference, Alburquerque, New Mexico, October 2017
  • Speaker, 30 Cool Things You Can Do in Class Right Now! AAfPE National Conference, San Antonio, Texas, October 2016
  • Teaching Competition, AAfPE National Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 2015
  • Speaker, Legal Writing in the Digital Age, AAfPE National Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 2014
  • Moderator and Panelist, Peer Review and Grading Issues, AAfPE National Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, October 2010
  • Panelist, Developing and Documenting Blended/Hybrid Legal Specialty Courses, AAfPE National Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, October 2010
  • Panelist, Sect & Secularity: The Propriety of Public Prayer, Stevenson University, November 2010
  • Panelist, WOW! Graduate School, Stevenson University, March 2009
  • Panelist, ALWD v. The Bluebook, AAfPE National Conference, Baltimore, Maryland, October 2007
  • Panelist, Using Technology in the Classroom, AAfPE National Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 2005
  • Author: “Paralegals: A Litigator’s Untapped Resource,” Maryland State Bar Assoc. Bar Bulletin (Jan. 2003)

Teaching

  • Business Law
  • Business Writing
  • Civil Litigation and Pleading
  • Constitutional Law
  • Contract Law
  • Employment Law
  • Evidence
  • Introduction to Legal Studies
  • Legal Research and Writing
  • LSAT Preparation
  • Mock Trial
  • Mock Trial Competition Team
  • Problems in Litigation
  • Senior Seminar
  • Tort Law
  • Written and Oral Advocacy

Highlights

Committee Work

  • Member, Academic Affairs Committee, fall 2015-present
  • Member, Library Committee, spring 2008-present
  • Member & Chair, Faculty Mentoring Committees, fall 2014-present
  • Member, Curricular Development Committee, fall 2017-present
  • Member, Self-Study Steering Committee, fall 2016-spring 2018
  • Member, Promotions Committee, spring 2014
  • Member, Task Force for Restructuring Core Curriculum, spring 2013-spring 2014
  • Chair, Student Services Committee of Faculty Council, spring 2008-2014
  • Member, Faculty Council, spring 2008-spring 2010
  • Member, Honors Committee, fall 2009-present

Other University Service

  • University mock trial coach (and sponsor of the 2018 and 2019 American Mock Trial Association Regional Tournaments), fall 2011-present
  • University pre-law advisor, spring 2002-present
  • University Westlaw representative, fall 2005-present
  • Pass Mentor, fall 2002-present
  • BS to MS Advisor, fall 2009-present
  • Developed first mock trial team on campus, fall 2011

Honors and Awards

  • University of Maryland School of Law Adjunct Professor of the Year, spring 2016
  • Brown School of Business and Leadership Dean’s Award for Outstanding Student Leadership, spring 2010, spring 2013, spring 2014, 2016
  • Rose Dawson Excellence in Teaching Award for a Full-Time Faculty Member, spring 2011
  • Commencement Speaker, December 2011
  • Brown School of Business and Leadership Dean’s Award for Outstanding Student Leadership, spring 2010
  • Selected by graduating class to speak at Baccalaureate Ceremony, spring 2004
  • Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers

Learn More

Member of:

  • American Association for Paralegal Education
  • Maryland and District of Columbia Bars
  • Maryland State Bar Association

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