Naperville, IL family law attorney Melissa Kuffel shares why she became a lawyer, discusses her background & experience, and details her service to the community. When asked why she decided to become a lawyer, she often reflects on her childhood aspiration of entering the legal field. However, life took her on a different path initially, and she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After college, she began working for an organization but found the experience unfulfilling and distressing. This prompted her to leave and transition to a nonprofit role, which felt far more meaningful and fulfilling. It was during this time that she decided to pursue law school, driven by a desire to effectuate change and genuinely help people. What she loves most about her job is the ability to connect with and support others.

In her second year of law school (as a 2L), she took a family law class where guest speakers from the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office shared their experiences representing abused and neglected children in DCFS care. She immediately knew that this was her calling — to advocate for these vulnerable children. She applied for a law clerkship with the Public Guardian’s Office during her 2L year, clerking through the summer and into her 3L year. Her passion for the work was evident, and she persistently expressed her desire to join the office permanently. Her dedication paid off, and she was one of only five individuals hired straight out of law school from a pool of about a thousand applicants.

For seven years, she represented abused and neglected children, managing approximately 100 cases involving children aged 0 to 21. Her work involved visiting their schools, homes, attending their plays, graduations, and taking them shopping — doing whatever was necessary to ensure they received the services and education they needed. These years were formative and incredibly eye-opening, albeit emotionally taxing. After seven years, feeling the emotional toll of the work, she decided to transition to the private sector and focus on family law.

While many attorneys avoid family law due to its emotional demands, she found it to be a natural fit and a lighter shift compared to handling severe abuse and neglect cases. The move felt like a progression in her career, allowing her to continue working as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) and handling DCFS cases, which remains a significant part of her practice.

During her time at the Public Guardian’s Office, she noticed that children in DCFS care lacked access to musical instruments and lessons. This observation led her to establish a nonprofit organization called Bring the Music Initiative. The project started with guitar lessons for three kids and expanded over time, thanks to fundraising efforts and volunteer support. At its peak, the initiative had around 20 volunteers offering a variety of classes, including piano, singing, dancing, and drums. The children participated in end-of-semester recitals and received their own instruments to keep. She ran the initiative for about five or six years, but after leaving the Public Guardian’s Office, she found it challenging to maintain the program due to her move to a different city and a shift in her legal practice.

Throughout her career, she has remained active in the community. She serves as the President of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, a role that holds great significance for her. She has also chaired the Child Advocacy Section for DuPage County, spoken at diversity symposiums, and volunteers for Meals on Wheels. For her, being involved in the community is immensely important and a source of deep fulfillment.