Women Who Lead: Spotlight on Melissa McKinney
By Taylor Gibbs
As winter gives way to the promise of spring, the NCBA Young Lawyers Division’s DEI Committee takes this opportunity to recognize and celebrate Women’s History Month. Alongside International Women’s Day on March 8, this month serves as a time to honor the achievements and contributions of women throughout our nation’s history, reflect on the progress made toward gender equality and acknowledge the work that remains.
Melissa McKinney
As of 2024, women make up approximately 41% of attorneys nationwide,[1] with North Carolina reflecting similar growth at just over 43% of surveyed attorneys.[2] While these numbers signal meaningful progress, women in the legal field continue to face ongoing challenges from subtle biases in the workplace to barriers in leadership advancement.
In recognition of both the progress made and the work still ahead, the NCBA YLD DEI Committee is proud to spotlight a woman who exemplifies excellence in the legal profession while actively supporting and uplifting others. This year, we are happy to feature Melissa McKinney, an associate attorney at Blanco Tackabery & Matamoros, P.A., where she focuses her practice in estate planning and administration. Recently named a 2026 Rising Star in estate and probate, Melissa is also actively involved in the REACH Women’s Network, a Winston-Salem-based organization dedicated to advancing gender equity in the workplace and beyond.
A Path Inspired by Purpose
Melissa grew up in Marietta, Georgia, where an early inspiration came from an unexpected place: watching “Legally Blonde.” The film’s message about never underestimating a woman left a lasting impression and started Melissa on the path to becoming an attorney herself. Her academic journey further shaped that interest in the legal field. Through her undergraduate studies focusing on historically marginalized communities and their interactions with the legal system, Melissa developed a deeper appreciation for the law’s real-world impact. Seeing how the legal system affects people from diverse backgrounds strengthened her desire to help others navigate it and to contribute to a more inclusive and representative profession.
An Intersectional Approach to Practice
As a woman of color, Melissa knows the value of approaching her work with an intersectional lens. Her primary practice areas of estate planning and estate administration regularly involve overlapping issues in property, family and tax law, reinforcing the importance of thoughtful and holistic problem-solving. While her practice can be demanding, Melissa approaches her work with empathy, diligence and integrity, striving to ensure that every client feels heard, respected and supported. She also recognizes the importance of resilience in the demanding and ever-evolving legal profession.
Putting DEI into Practice
To Melissa, diversity, equity and inclusion go beyond terminology and is about creating a space where different perspectives are not just present but genuinely valued. Her commitment to DEI has shaped her career by encouraging her to prioritize mentorship, community involvement and collaboration. Through her work with the REACH Women’s Network, Melissa has seen firsthand how intentional inclusion fosters opportunity, builds meaningful connections and helps address systemic barriers. Engaging with professional women across industries has also broadened her perspective, allowing her to incorporate new approaches into her own practice.
Progress and Possibility
In reflecting on Women’s History Month, Melissa highlights that the growing presence of women in leadership roles as a particularly inspiring development within the legal profession. She also highlights broader structural changes, such as the expansion of remote work and the transition to electronic filing, as meaningful steps toward greater flexibility. While not implemented specifically with women in mind, these changes have had a significant impact by enabling more women to remain in the profession and better balance competing demands.
Lifting Others Along the Way
Melissa’s commitment to uplifting others is deeply personal. Growing up without seeing women of color in the legal profession, she now strives to be a visible example for the next generation. She actively engages with younger members of the community to demonstrate that a legal career is both attainable and rewarding.
Melissa shares, “I aim to help women see that they belong and can succeed in this profession. Mentoring, sponsorship and networking allow me to support women in our community. Uplifting others is not only about individual success — it’s about strengthening the profession for everyone who comes after us and ensuring that they have the means to stay in it.”
Women’s History Month is not only a time to reflect on how far we have come, but also an opportunity to look ahead to the progress still to be made. The NCBA YLD DEI Committee is proud to highlight Melissa McKinney, whose dedication, perspective and commitment to others embody the importance of representation and inclusion in the legal profession. Her work serves as a reminder that advancing equity strengthens not only individual careers, but the profession as a whole.