P. Melanie Vliet

After having spent the lion's share of my working life as a teacher at every level from pre-school through adult school and university, I decided at age fifty to pursue a completely different professional interest that had taken root in my childhood--the law. This proved to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.

It was my son who prompted me to go in this direction. At age eighteen he urged me, "You need to decide what you want to do with your life and go back to school if that's what it takes to do it."

After one delay to fight my second battle with cancer and another to earn a paralegal certificate, I entered law school at fifty-three. I found my studies fascinating, but the workload was overwhelming. Nevertheless, in due time I graduated Cum Laude (with honors) and promptly passed the California bar.

My desire throughout this adventure has been to increase the level of justice in the world. Since I began practicing law in late 2013, I have had the privilege of doing just that. I have served dozens of seniors through my work with the Senior Citizens Legal Advocacy Program at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County--initially as a volunteer attorney and later as a part-time employee as well. I have delighted in bringing peace of mind and comfort to clients facing the loss of their homes or of significant portions of their meager incomes. I have obtained the reasonable accommodations that clients with disabilities needed but had been denied. I have helped to protect elders from their abusers and those wrongly accused of abuse from the elders who unjustly sought their restraint.

I can think of no more rewarding work than that which my law license enables me to do. It may have taken me a few more decades than it takes most people, but I have found my calling, and I'm loving it!