Growing up, she was influenced by the mistreatment of populations without power (minorities, impoverished communities, those affected by mental illness). This background led to her activism at the University of Washington as President of Amnesty International and eventually law school at Seattle University. During law school, Melanie spent her third year representing indigent clients as a Rule 9 extern at The Defender Association, a public defense agency in King County. After law school, Melanie served as a judicial clerk to Justice Charles W. Johnson of the Washington State Supreme Court.