Melody L. Sequoia is the founder and owner of The Sequoia Law Firm.  Melody advocates on behalf of consumers throughout California and nationwide who have fallen victim to unfair and unlawful business practices, abusive debt collection practices, and false advertising.  Melody is committed to addressing unmet legal needs by representing those who are not traditionally served by either legal aid or larger private law firms. 

 

Prior to founding The Sequoia Law Firm, Melody began her professional career as a trial lawyer focusing on complex commercial litigation.  She has successfully represented clients in both state and federal court and has experience in all phases of litigation, from initial case investigation to appeals.  Melody has been selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine for several years.  She is licensed to practice law in both California and Illinois.

 

Along with her law practice, Melody recently joined the Santa Clara Law faculty as a Clinical Professor teaching various legal writing courses, among other things.  Melody enjoys working with students to build confidence in their research, writing, and oral advocacy sills. 

 

Melody graduated magna cum laude from Chicago-Kent College of Law.  While in law school, Melody served as a Notes and Comments Editor of the Chicago-Kent Law Review and a Vice President of the Chicago-Kent Moot Court Honor Society.  She served as a legal writing teaching assistant and received numerous writing awards.   Ms. Sequoia also spent several semesters as a judicial extern in the Circuit Court of Cook County.  ​

Melody was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She attended Palo Alto High School and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree (B.S., Biology) from the University of California at San Diego.  Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with her family and hiking and camping throughout the great state of California. 

 

Education

 

J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law

B.S., Biology, University of California at San Diego

 

Affiliations and Honors

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State Bar of California

State Bar of Illinois (inactive status)

Multiple U.S. District Courts in the 7th and 9th Circuits

Member, National Association of Consumer Advocates

Member, Santa Clara County Bar Association

Member, San Mateo County Bar Association

Member, California Bar Association

Selected as a “Rising Star” in California and Illinois by Super Lawyers Magazine