Melissa Hill - Raleigh, NC
Attorney at Tharrington Smith LLP
Criminal Law and Business Crimes Defense Lawyers in Raleigh, NC
150 Fayetteville Street Suite 1900 Raleigh, NC 27601
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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39
Years
Experience
Raleigh Criminal Law and Business Crimes Defense Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Criminal Law and Business Crimes Defense
- Licensing Boards Discipline
- Litigation
Attorney Information
Overview
Melissa Hill is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. She received her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1984. She also attended law school at UNC, where she was admitted to the Order of the Coif, was on the North Carolina Law Review and received her J.D. with honors in 1987.
Ms. Hill is the author of Tennessee v. Garner - The Use of Deadly Force to Arrest as an Unreasonable Search and Seizure, 65 N.C.L. Rev. 155 (1986); and Branch Banking & Trust Company v. Wright - Creditors Rights to Entireties Property Awarded to Nondebtor Spouse Upon Divorce, 64 N.C.L. Rev. 1471 (1986).
Ms. Hill joined Tharrington Smith in 1987 and practices criminal and civil litigation in state and federal courts in North Carolina as well as in other states. She has earned the top rating (AV®) in Martindale Hubbell. She is a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the American, North Carolina, and Wake County bar associations, and formerly served as an officer on the North Carolina Bar Association's Criminal Justice Council.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America®, 2010 - 2018
- Top rating (AV®) in Martindale Hubbell
Other Sources of Feedback About Melissa Hill
Included on the 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers list
- 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers list
- 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers list
- 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers list
- 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers list
- 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers list
- 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers list
Education
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Legal Education
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University of North Carolina School of Law,
Chapel Hill,
North Carolina, 1987
J.D.
Honors: Order of the Coif
Law Review: North Carolina Law Review
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University of North Carolina School of Law,
Chapel Hill,
North Carolina, 1987
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Non Legal Education
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North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Chapel Hill, NC, 1984
B.A.
Honors: magna cum laude
-
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Chapel Hill, NC, 1984
Current Employment Position(s)
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Attorney
Published Works
Articles
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Tennessee v. Garner - The Use of Deadly Force to Arrest as an Unreasonable Search and Seizure, 65 N.C.L. Rev. 155, 1986
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Branch Banking & Trust Company v. Wright - Creditors Rights to Entireties Property Awarded to Nondebtor Spouse Upon Divorce, 64 N.C.L. Rev. 1471, 1986
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina, 1987
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1988
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, 1987
Other Affiliations
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice (Member)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Member)
- Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers (Member)
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Member)
- American Bar Association (Member)
- North Carolina Bar Association (Member)
- Wake County Bar Association (Member)
Fraternities and Sororities
- Phi Beta Kappa
Reviews
Highlights
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5.0 Value
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5.0 Quality of Service
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5.0 Professional Competence
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Hired Attorney 2018-2019Melissa Hill represented me for my divorce. Since day one, Melissa was extremely professional and caring. If I had a question she was quick with a response. I would highly recommend Melissa to anyone in need of legal counsel.
Photo
Contact
150 Fayetteville Street
Suite 1900
Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone: 919-821-4711
Fax: 919-829-1583
Email: Send a message
Website: http://tharringtonsmith.com
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