Fletcher, Melissa Morales

Melissa Morales Fletcher

Melissa has been practicing law since 1998 and has wide-ranging experience in employment and labor litigation. Melissa began her legal career as an Assistant City Attorney with the City of Dallas Attorney's Office. After serving as a Prosecutor, she quickly promoted to the Employment and Labor Section where she defended the City of Dallas and its elected officials and employees in cases involving all aspects of employment  discrimination, retaliation, civil rights and other Federal and State employment statutes. Melissa was also responsible for handling administrative trial board and Administrative Law Judge hearings of which she first-chaired numerous such hearings.

Upon leaving the City of Dallas, Melissa became an associate with a law firm defending municipalities in all aspects of employment litigation, land use matters and constitutional violations. Subsequently, Melissa was hired by a major Dallas Law Firm, formerly known as Godwin Gruber LLP, where she again handled all forms and aspects of employment litigation. In 2004, Melissa made her way back to her home town, San Antonio, and began working as Staff Counsel for State Farm Insurance Company. While working in this capacity, Melissa again first chaired District Court trials and numerous County Court trials. In 2010, eager to return to the practice of employment law, Melissa joined Goode Casseb Jones Riklin Choate & Watson where she primarily handled employment law litigation and consulting. In 2013, Melissa made the decision to join forces with her father and brother. Melissa is Of Counsel to The Morales Firm, P.C. and continues to litigate and provide consultation to employers and employees in all aspects of employment law.

Practice Areas

  • Litigation
  • Labor and Employment

Education

  • Texas Southern University Law School, Houston, Texas
    • J.D. - 1998
    • Honors: cum laude
  • University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas
    • B.A. - 1995
    • Major: Mathematics

Bar Admissions

  • Texas
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Texas

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Board Certified-Labor and Employment Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Past Positions

  • City of Dallas, Assistant City Attorney
  • Nichols Jackson Dillard Hager & Smith
  • Godwin Gruber, L.L.P
  • Frank R. Rivas & Associates , Staff Counsel for State Farm Insurance Company
  • Goode Casseb Jones Riklin Choate & Watson

Honors

  • Selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition, 2012 and 2013

Published Works

  • "The Family Medical Leave Act: Recent Developments and Common Pitfalls", SAHRMA Employment Law Conference , 2014
  • "What Is and Isn't Sanctionable and Proving it Up", (Paper only) Bench Motions and Trials IV/SABA, May, 2014
  • "Immigration in Employment Law", SAHRMA Employment Law Conference, 2013
  • "Minding Your Own Business: Regulating Off-Duty Conduct", SAHRMA Employment Law Conference, 2012
  • "Immigration Law Update", Employment Law Update/Sterling Educational Services, 2012
  • "ESI Disputes: The Digital World Comes to Court", (Paper Only) Bench Motions and Trials II/SABA, May, 2010
  • "Discovery Disputes: Why the Judges Love Them", (Paper Only) Bench Motions and Trials/SABA, May 2009, 2013
  • "Managing Today's Employee: Hiring, Discipline and Firing Issues", Corporate, Partnership and Business Law/University of Houston Law Foundation, June, 2003
  • "Same Sex Sexual Harassment", Dallas Bar Association, June, 2003
  • "First Amendment Retaliation", Practice of Law in the Public Sector -- Updates and Practical Considerations/Dallas City Attorney's Office, May, 2001

Professional Associations

  • San Antonio Bar Association
  • Mexican American Bar Association-San Antonio, Treasurer (2019, 2020)
  • San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association, Treasurer (2016-2018), Director (2014, 2015)
  • San Antonio Employment Lawyers Association
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Bexar County Women’s Bar Association