Charles Wolfe McMellon, Jr. Esq.
My interest in property started in the 1980s with my family’s restoration of apartment buildings in Brooklyn. My parents taught me the landlord-tenant relationship is more than just a contract on paper, but a relationship of mutual trust and obligation.
After law school and passing the bar in 2009, I participated with the Unified Court’s Volunteer Lawyers for a Day program to provided pro-bono representation for tenants in housing and civil court cases. In December 2010, I was hired as Legal Counsel and Senior Property Manager for Community Access, a large non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing and mental health services for people with psychiatric disabilities. My nine years of service with this organization enforced the principle “housing is a human endeavor.”
Thereafter, I served for two-and-one half years as the Borough Enforcement Attorney for Brooklyn and Staten Island for the NYC Department of Buildings. This position provided the opportunity to learn and grow my knowledge and expertise with enforcement actions against landlords, the building code, and the government process for resolving violations.
Prior to my practice of law, I am a fifty-year resident of Park Slope, Brooklyn. I attended PS39 grammar school, Packer Middle School and Midwood High School (1986-1990). My alma mater is Boston University, where I studied Human Physiology and Chemistry between 1990-1994. After graduation, I worked as a cardiac researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital (1994-1997), a professional musician (1994-2003), a coffee house manager (1997-2000) and a Unix System Engineer for Thomson Financial (2001-2005).
Upon graduation from Pace Law School in 2008 (Elizabeth Haub Law School), I was sworn into the New York State Bar in April 2009. Currently, I am an active member of the Housing Court Committee for the New York City Bar Association. My practice covers the five boroughs of City of New York.
Finally, I take my Oath of Office with the New York State Court as set forth in § 1 of Article XIII of the New York State Constitution as a solum and unbreakable duty.
“I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of counselor-at-law, according to the best of my ability.”