Melissa Hill

Melissa Hill is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. She received her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1984. She also attended law school at UNC, where she was admitted to the Order of the Coif, was on the North Carolina Law Review and received her J.D. with honors in 1987. Ms. Hill is the author of Tennessee v. Garner - The Use of Deadly Force to Arrest as an Unreasonable Search and Seizure, 65 N.C.L. Rev. 155 (1986); and Branch Banking & Trust Company v. Wright - Creditors Rights to Entireties Property Awarded to Nondebtor Spouse Upon Divorce, 64 N.C.L. Rev. 1471 (1986). Ms. Hill joined Tharrington Smith in 1987 and practices criminal and civil litigation in state and federal courts in North Carolina as well as in other states. She has earned the top rating (AV®) in Martindale Hubbell. She is a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the American, North Carolina, and Wake County bar associations, and formerly served as an officer on the North Carolina Bar Association's Criminal Justice Council.

University of North Carolina School of Law

J.D. (1987)

1987

Honors: With honors. Order of the Coif.

Activities: North Carolina Law Review

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

B.A. (1984)

1984

Honors: cum laude

Activities: Phi Beta Kappa

Tharrington Smith

1987 - Current

Branch Banking & Trust Company v. Wright - Creditors Rights to Entireties Property Awarded to Nondebtor Spouse Upon Divorce

64 N.C.L. Rev. 1471

1986

Tennessee v. Garner - The Use of Deadly Force to Arrest as an Unreasonable Search and Seizure

65 N.C.L. Rev. 155

1986

Best Lawyer

Best Lawyers in America

2015

Best Lawyer

Best Lawyers in America

2014

Best Lawyer

Best Lawyers in America

2013

Best Lawyer

Best Lawyers in America

2012

Best Lawyer

Best Lawyers in America

2011

North Carolina State Bar

Member

Current

North Carolina Advocates for Justice

Member

Current

Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Member

Current

Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers

Member

Current

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

Current

North Carolina

Since 1987

• Litigation
• Licensing Boards Discipline