Melody K. Fuller obtained a Bachelor Decree, Magna Cum Laude, with Highest Distinction in Sociology, in 1974 from Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska. Melody was the recipient of academic and forensics scholarships while at Hastings College, and was a 1974 recipient of the Hastings College Bronco Award, the highest non-academic campus award. Melody was the editor for the student government newsletter, authored a column in the school newspaper, and published two sociological research papers which were reviewed in academic journals.

In 1974 Melody entered the University of Colorado School of Law School on a full academic and fees scholarship. During her first year, she served as a representative on the Honor Code Council and was active in the Women’s Law Caucus.

In 1975, Melody married, left law school and moved to Australia with her husband, where she lived for three years, while her husband was an officer in the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Corps (NOAA) assigned to New South Wales, Australia. Melody was a Girl Guide a/k/a Girl Scout Leader for two years, working with a middle-school age Girl Guide troop in Narrabri, New South Wales. While in Australia, Melody studied art and learned to play the piano, accompanying elementary school age ballet students.

Melody returned to Colorado and to C.U. Law School in January 1979, and worked as a reporter for a law journal, the Solar Law Reporter, published by the Solar Energy Research Institute, n/k/a as the National Renewable Energy Laboratories. Melody earned her Juris Doctorate in 1980, and was licensed to practice in Colorado and the U.S. District Court in October, 1980.

Melody started a private practice, Pottick & Fuller, and then became an associate for Bragg & Dubofsky, P.C.. In 1982, she became a staff attorney of the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver (LASMD), n/k/a Colorado Legal Services, where she represented indigent people, doing senior citizen and housing cases. In 1986, Melody became the Managing Attorney for Boulder County Legal Services (BCLS) and managed the office until she left to enter private practice as Of Counsel at Cooper, Tanis & McBain, P.C. in 2001. In April 2004 Melody joined with Robert Cooper, Leonard Tanis, and Michael Cohen to form Cooper, Tanis, Fuller & Cohen, P.C.

Melody’s personal interests include gardening, telemark and back country skiing, and reading (member of a book club). Melody is married and has three children.

Legal:

Practice Areas:

• Family Law; Extensive background and experience with disability and indigency issues.

Attorney:

• Founding shareholder of Cooper, Tanis, Fuller & Cohen, P.C., April 2004 - present.
• Of Counsel, Cooper, Tanis & McBain, P.C., 2001-2004
• Managing Attorney, Boulder County Legal Services (BCLS), 1986-2001
• Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver (LASMD), n/k/a Colorado Legal Services, 1982-1986
• Bragg & Dubofsky, 1981-1982
• Pottick & Fuller, 1980-1981

Admissions:

• Colorado - October 1980
• Court of Appeals - 10th Circuit - 1985
• United States District Court - October 1980

Published Cases:

• Brown v. Colorado Dept. of Labor (1985), 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1986

Other:

Education:

• J.D., University of Colorado School of Law, 1980
• B.A., Hastings College, 1974

Memberships:

• Colorado Bar Association
• Boulder County Bar Association, President, 2004 - 2005; Member of Board of Trustees, 2000-present; former Secretary/Treasurer and President-elect; former Chair for Availability of Legal Services Committee
• Adams/Broomfield County Bar Association
• Interdisciplinary Committee on Child Custody
• Colorado Women’s Bar Association

Speaker:

• Schools and community groups on Medicare/Medicaid, family law, domestic violence, life skills and legal issues for teens
• Bar Associations on family law issues

Awards:

• John Marshall Award, Boulder County Bar Association, 1992
• Boulder County Victim Assistance Law Enforcement Vale Outstanding Service Award, 1999
• Martindale-Hubbell AV rating

Pubications:

• Senior Law Handbook – Section on Home Care
• Miscellaneous columns in newsletters and newspapers
• Author of three (3) articles for The Colorado Lawyer regarding child support, restraining orders and legal services programs
• Author of President’s Page for Boulder County Bar monthly newsletters, 2004-2005

Volunteer Work:

• Brownie and Girl Scout leader (5 yrs)
• Pro-bono case handler for Boulder County Legal Services
• Judge for high school forensics meets
• Board Member, Boulder County Dental Aid, 1984-1985
• Board Member and Officer, Bixby School (1994-2000) (Secretary for 3 years; President for 2 years)