Ms. Johnson is active in local, state and national legal communities and is often recognized for her commitment, skill, and leadership. Ms. Johnson served on the Board of the San Diego County Bar Association from 2019-2024, serving as its President in 2023, and previously chaired its Labor and Employment Executive Committee. She serves on the Executive Counsel of the National Conference of Bar Presidents and served on the Executive Board of the California Employment Lawyer’s Association from 2018-2025.
Ms. Johnson has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and was named a Top 100 Lawyer and Top 50 Veteran by the San Diego Business Journal. She is an inductee to the San Diego LGBT Veteran’s Wall of Honor and serves on its advisory council. Ms. Johnson was recognized for her service to the Somali Bantu Association of San Diego. She is the first openly LGBT person appointed to the County of San Diego’s Civil Service Commission, serving as its President in 2023. And in recognition of her service, the County Board of Supervisors proclaimed June 4, 2025 to be Melissa Johnson day in the County of San Diego.
Ms. Johnson lectures on employment law topics before professional associations, community groups, and national, state, and local bar associations, including the California Lawyers Association’s Labor & Employment conferences and seminars. She addresses audiences on a variety of employment-related topics such as discrimination, harassment and retaliation, leaves under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), wage and hour laws, LGBTQ protections, and numerous general litigation topics.
Ms. Johnson is a proud United States Air Force Veteran.