Professional Interests
Melissa Yasinow is a fierce advocate for her clients in all legal settings. Trained as a litigator, Melissa has successfully represented students in all manner of disciplinary proceedings across Ohio and the United States. Melissa’s experience includes defending students in Title IX investigations as well as proceedings concerning student misconduct, professionalism, and academic integrity. Her years of litigation experience complement Balin Law’s Social Security Disability practice, helping her to assess SSDI/SSI cases and other claims on behalf of our clients.
Melissa is particularly proud of her work defending students with disabilities, including Depression, ADHD, Anxiety, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Melissa’s experience includes:
• Successfully appealed a fourth-year medical student’s dismissal from an Ohio public university for alleged academic underperformance.
• Successfully defended an Ohio high school senior in a Title IX investigation after he had been suspended without due process.
• Successfully defended a college senior against claims of sexual misconduct at a private college in New York.
• Successfully resolved a sexual misconduct case at a New Jersey public university where both students had Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Successfully defended a pre-med student at a private Ohio university accused of cheating on a physics exam.
• Successfully resolved a disciplinary matter ensuring that an Ohio high school sophomore could return to school and the soccer team after a mental health crisis.
• Successfully appealed the suspension of an Ohio public university student from his pharmacy program after the university failed to provide mandatory due process.
• Successfully appealed a sexual misconduct ruling against a rising senior at a public Indiana university.
• Successfully resolved a disciplinary matter for a high school student after private writings were circulated without his knowledge or consent by former friends.
Melissa is also proud to help individuals with disabilities in all legal settings, including before Social Security.
Civic Involvement
Melissa previously served as a Councilmember and Vice Mayor in the City of Cleveland Heights. When Melissa first joined Cleveland Heights City Council, she was the youngest ever elected official in the city’s history.
Melissa completed Ladder Down Cleveland (Class of 2021), Cleveland Bridge Builders (Class of 2019) and the Mandel Leadership Symposium (Class of 2017). She is also a past Board Member of the Anti-Defamation League in Cleveland.
Melissa is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.
Honors & Awards
Melissa was recognized as a Top Rated Attorney 3 years in a row, making the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in 2019, 2020, and 2021; an honor granted to no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state.
Named one of the “Most Interesting People” by Cleveland Magazine in 2018 and “12 Under 36: Member of the Tribe,” by the Cleveland Jewish News in 2018.
Recipient of a Fulbright Grant to the Republic of Korea where she represented American interests from 2006 to 2007.
