Melnia Cordis, a pioneering lawyer, like many younger women rising up in her small village of Arora on the Essequibo Coast of Guyana, wished to turn out to be an air hostess. She additionally considered becoming a member of the overseas service as an envoy.
Nevertheless, there have been different alternatives to discover, akin to medication, or turning into an lawyer. The latter would finally constitution a course for an excellent profession that has led Cordis, a gifted, and hardworking authorized eagle to a profitable observe, licensed in areas of divorce, property planning, immigration, non-profit formation and tax exemption, guardianship, adoption and brokerage & actual property.
Throughout a current unique interview with Caribbean Life at CordisLaw PC, 440 53rd St., Brooklyn, the lawyer, who exudes the Girls’s Historical past Month theme – “Girls Who Advocate for Fairness, Range, and Inclusion, has raised the bar for the previous 20 years when her journey in legislation started, first as a legal lawyer, working totally on extradition issues.
She additionally practiced in her homeland from 1998 to 2003 as a basic observe lawyer with the Georgetown Authorized Support Clinic conducting circumstances associated to home violence, custody, adoption, property disputes, to call just a few.
Cordis who accomplished her formal schooling at Guyana’s prestigious President Faculty, and graduated from the College of Guyana, earlier than being known as to the bar at Hugh Wooding Legislation College in Trinidad & Tobago in 1997, later migrated to the US in 2003, and was admitted to the New York Bar in 2004.
Cordis mentioned, the mission assertion of her observe is to offer a service to our “Caribbean group, not simply restricted to immigration work, however to different areas of the legislation to fulfill the wants of all shoppers.”
She reasoned that again within the day rising up there was the household lawyer who was name upon for any sort of authorized matter, with the boldness that that particular person would have your finest curiosity at coronary heart, and would supply the perfect data that was wanted, “with the intention to make the proper choice.”
“That’s the thought behind my observe. We need to be personable with everybody. We would like our shoppers to know that now we have their finest curiosity at coronary heart. We additionally need them to know if they’ve a query or any concern, they’ll name us with out considering that each time I name my lawyer, I’m going to be billed for this or that.”
“I’ve endeavored over the previous years that I’ve been in observe to be endearing to all my shoppers. There are individuals which may have points occasionally however the thought behind the observe of legislation for me is to be a full-service supplier for all shoppers,” mentioned Cordis who’s an internationally educated lawyer, with a wealth of expertise within the discipline.
“I need to have the ability to carry your loved ones to the US, and in case your youngster is getting married, to just remember to know which immigration papers are wanted for a profitable completion.”
“In case you’re submitting for a divorce, we offer environment friendly service for a easy course of. In case you’re shopping for or promoting a home, we additionally present actual property providers, in addition to property planning. We do supply complete service,” she added.
The practitioner has served because the VP of Providers for the Metropolitan Black Bar Affiliation, and as its director for Group Providers. She is the appearing director for her alma mater alumni affiliation and offers environment friendly service with well-known expert companions.
“The observe additionally prepares energy of attorneys, healthcare proxies and within the occasion of somebody passing, help with property administration and probate of the property and transference of no matter belongings from the deceased to the beneficiaries,” she defined.
Cordis, who maintains a distinguished presence within the Guyanese and Caribbean group, allocates her time to outreach packages. Through the pandemic, she labored with WIADCA to offer the general public with fundamental authorized data, akin to a presentation she made on the marijuana legal guidelines in New York.
Additionally, a volunteer with Entry Justice the place she offers free illustration to indigent people, Cordis moreover presents professional bono session on wills and estates to aged, whereas staying busy with immigration. Her providers embrace non secular petitions, extension of standing, adjustment of standing, work allow waiver, US citizenship, consular processing, scholar visa, and abused partner software.
Her observe was instrumental in serving to individuals who had been stranded within the US in the course of the pandemic, and continues to supply free displays to organizations and church buildings on matters of property planning and immigration. This service can be prolonged to individuals dwelling in New Jersey.
When requested what phrases of knowledge she would impart to younger girls and women working to attain their dream to turn out to be legal professionals, Cordis mentioned the significance of “discovering your ardour and dealing arduous in direction of your targets.”
“You could keep centered. There are a whole lot of distractions that may come your method as a younger particular person, it may be monetary points, or social points, but when it’s one thing you need to do, it’s important to keep centered.”
“My recommendation is to get some expertise working anyplace, it doesn’t need to be at a legislation agency. Legislation may be very adaptable, you may maneuver in virtually any discipline of enterprise with a legislation diploma however expertise within the workforce offers you the flexibility to learn individuals, after which you may gauge when you’ve got a superb sense of particular person traits, as a result of it’ll assist in trial work. You have to be adaptable,” she added.
Cordis who has labored as an affiliate lawyer on the Robert Plan, then as a no-fault trial lawyer for Countrywide Insurance coverage Firm, mentioned challenges include varied areas of the legislation. “For everybody on the market, whether or not you’re pursuing legislation or simply doing no matter you get pleasure from doing, the bottom-line is, just remember to’re blissful as a result of tomorrow isn’t promised to anybody. I attempt to do what I really like, to the perfect of my skill, and current the perfect of me,” mentioned the internationally educated lawyer.
The observe presents free talking engagements, (when out there). For extra data, e-mail [email protected]. Name at no cost session (929-610-0074). www.melniacordislaw.com, and social media platforms – Instagram, Fb @cordislaw.
