Melinda Dee Middlebrooks

Melinda Dee Middlebrooks

5.0
Rating: 9.1

Licensed for 40 years

Debt and lending agreements Lawyer at Springfield, NJ
Practice Areas: Debt & Lending Agreements, Bankruptcy & Debt, Litigation ... +4 more

841 Mountain Avenue, First Floor, Springfield, NJ

About Melinda

Biography

Practice Areas

7

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Tennessee for 39 years

State: Tennessee

Acquired: 1987

Active

Licensed in New Jersey for 40 years

State: New Jersey

Acquired: 1985

Active

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2013

Location

Middlebrooks Shapiro, P.C.

841 Mountain Avenue, First Floor, Springfield, NJ, 07081

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Melinda Dee Middlebrooks's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

3 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (3) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Star rating
5 stars 3
4 stars 0
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1 star 0
Practice Areas

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

Posted by Lauren | June 13, 2012

Apex of Professionalism

Working with Melinda is always a pleasure. She is knowledgeable, approachable and empathetic to her clients' needs. Her ability to translate "legalese" for the layperson’s comprehension gives her a boost in my book.

Posted by anonymous | June 13, 2012 | Bankruptcy & Debt

The Best of the Best !

The Middlebrooks & Shapiro Law firm has been instrumental in helping me managing my finances for the last 7 years. When I first contacted the firm in 2005 my personal finances were in shambles. Health problems were the root cause of my problems. First, Melinda and her team listened carefully to what ...I had to say. Then it did not take them long to devise a plan for me to get back on a good path of being financially responsible and accountable for all the expenses that I incur. This was not the end of the story though. The staff at the Ms. Middlebrooks' office worked shoulder to shoulder with me as I began to implement the custom tailored tasks that I needed to accomplish. At the heart of my financial recovery was a very detailed budget of my monthly income and expenses. I had never been taught how to discipline myself economically. It was only after it was explained patiently by her group that the methods and techniques made sense. I am happy to say that in the last few years all the help that the Middlebrooks Shapiro law firm has made a monumental positive difference in my life. I sincerely thank them for that!

Posted by Karen | June 12, 2012 | Bankruptcy & Debt

Outstanding

I used Melinda after I was downsized and lost my job after 27 years. I was devastated and very anxious about what was going to happen next, would I lose my house, be able to pay my bills, I had so many questions. I had heard about Melinda from several friends and decided to schedule an appointment. A...t the initial consultation, Melinda was so compassionate and knowledgeable, I really felt she cared about me as a person and not just another case. She walked me through all my options without making me feel pressured to decide immediately such a large decision. I decided to file with Melinda's guidance and she was there every step of the way. The beauty of this smaller, specialized firm is that I never felt I was bothering anyone with my questions or phone calls. They were always extremely accommodating. Filing for bankruptcy is a very difficult decision and anxiety provoking to say the least. I know that the process was made so much easier by the personalized care I received from Melinda.

See All Client Reviews

Melinda Dee Middlebrooks's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Melinda
Nathan Andrew Sheffield headshot
Nathan Sheffield

Unknown lawyer | Jan 06

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I am proud to endorse Melinda Middlebrooks. She is a stellar attorney who maintains a level of interaction with her clients that is truly admirable."

William Mackin headshot
William Mackin

Unknown lawyer | Jun 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Melinda for many years. She is one of those rare attorneys who possess both passion in representing her clients and compassion for their circumstances. Melinda enjoys a well deserved reputation among fellow lawyers, judges and her clients as an intelligent, professional, and ethical practitioner. She is an extremely capable attorney and I have no hesitation in endorsing her because of her excellent abilities."

Christian K. Lassen II headshot
Christian Lassen

Unknown lawyer | Mar 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."

Dorothy G Bunce headshot
Dorothy Bunce

Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer | Aug 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Melinda Dee Middlebrooks might be "too smart" for a "simple bankruptcy case" but how do you know that your case is simple unless you talk to her first? And what's wrong with hiring the best attorney around even if you haven't got a complicated case? All kidding aside, Melinda has great expertise in the bankruptcy arena & I am proud to endorse her here on AVVO."

Paris Bolem Lee headshot
Paris Lee

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer | May 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Middlebrooks is a recognized authority in the field."

Virginia Elizabeth Fortunato headshot
Virginia Fortunato

Chapter 11 bankruptcy lawyer | Apr 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Melinda for six years. She is an intelligent attorney who is an expert in the bankruptcy field. In addition, to the care she provides to each of her client's cases, she finds time to mentor other young attorneys."

Michael David Siegel headshot
Michael Siegel

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer | Apr 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Melinda for nearly 20 years. Having worked with her at New Jersey's largest firm, I know she can handle the complex legal issues that arise in any matter. However, she is one of the most compassionate people I know, well suited to handle the problem of any person facing a crisis in their financial life, needing the services of a lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Karina Pia Lucid Esq. headshot
Karina Lucid

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

William Mackin headshot
William Mackin

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Jonathan Stone headshot
Jonathan Stone

Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer

Gary D Nissenbaum headshot
Gary Nissenbaum

Commercial real estate lawyer

Joseph Paul Middlebrooks Shapiro headshot
Joseph Shapiro

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Andrew R Turner headshot
Andrew Turner

Litigation lawyer

Paris Bolem Lee headshot
Paris Lee

Immigration lawyer

Michael David Siegel headshot
Michael Siegel

General practice lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.1 (Superb)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2013.

Reprimanded issued in NJ, 2013

updated on 12/11/2014

This means the attorney did something wrong, but the Bar did not suspend the lawyer. Typically in this case the lawyer's poor behavior is exposed to the public in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.

Honors

2013

Best Fifty Women in Business, NJBiz

2012

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Work Experience

1986 - 1993

Associate, McCarter & English, LLP

1985 - 1986

Judicial Law Clerk to Chief Judge Vincent J. Commisa, United States Bankruptcy Court

Associations

1999 - Present

Supreme Court of New Jersey, District X Fee Arbitration Committee

Secretary

American Bar Association

Member

New Jersey State Bar Association

Member

Morris County Bar Association

Member

Bankruptcy American Inn of Court

Master

Sample of Legal Cases

In re: De La Concha Tobaconnist

Confirmed Chapter 11

See More Legal Cases

Education

1987

Seton Hall University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1979

Vanderbilt University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

1977

Columbia University

MA - Masters

Speaking Engagements

2012

Educational Legal Clinic Bankruptcy

2004

New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education

Collection Practice Made Easy

Publications

2005

New Jersey Lawyer - The Magazine of the New Jersey Bar Association IRAs: Who Gets the Money?

1999

New Jersey Lawyer - The Magazine of the New Jersey Bar Association What Every Practicioner Should Know About Bankruptcy Before One is Filed?

1997

Section 363 Sales - Strategies and Pitfalls Seminar, Essex County Bar Association, Debtor / Creditor Committee and Equity Jurisprudence Section Authority for Sales and Related Statutory Provisions

1996

Essex County Bar Association, Debtor / Creditor Committee and Equity Jurisprudence Section Litigating Real Estate Disclosure Issues in Non-Dischargeablility Actions

1994

Essex County Bar Association, Debtor / Creditor Committee and Equity Jurisprudence Section Effectiveness of Writ of Attachment Upon the Filing of a Petition in Bankruptcy

Languages

Spanish

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2013
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution