Melissa Johnson brings nearly 30 years of litigation and trial experience to Sanders Roberts. From pleadings to verdict, Ms. Johnson has served as lead counsel in twenty trials. Ms. Johnson advises and represents companies and individuals on a wide range of employment matters including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, terminations, accommodations, wage and hour and employment contract disputes. The breadth of her experience includes representing both employers and employees, and she has substantial experience litigating general and business disputes.
 

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.

Education
  • B.A., University of California, San Diego
  • J.D., Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California
Awards and Recognition
  • San Diego County Board of Supervisors Proclaimed June 4, 2025 to be Melissa Johnson Day in the County of San Diego
  • San Diego Press Club award for best article – military: 2024
  • San Diego LGBT Center’s Veteran’s Wall of Honor Inductee: 2023
  • Top 50 San Diego Veterans; San Diego Business Journal: 2023
  • Top 100 San Diego Attorneys; San Diego Business Journal: 2023
  • Super Lawyer, Employment 2023-2025
  • Outstanding Service to the Somali Bantu Association of America: 2019
  • Certificate of Recognition from City of San Diego for dedication and commitment to the Somali Bantu Community: 2019
  • Certificate of Recognition from County of San Diego Sheriff, William Gore, for dedication and commitment to the Somali Bantu Community: 2019
  • SDCBA Section Award for “Nuts & Bolts” programming for newer lawyers: 2018
  • SDCBA Section Award for Thinking Outside the Box: 2017
Leadership
  • California Employment Lawyer’s Association (CELA)
    • Executive Board: 2018 – 2025
    • Mentor Committee: 2016 – 2024
    • Finance Committee: 2019-2022
    • Leadership Conservatory: 2020-2025
    • Chair, Nominations Committee: 2021
    • Chair, Listserv Committee: 2021-2025
  • San Diego County Bar Association
    • Board of Directors: 2019 – 2024
    • Executive Committee: 2020-2024
    • Immediate Past President 2024
    • President: 2023
    • President-Elect: 2022
    • Vice President: 2021
    • Treasurer: 2021
    • Secretary: 2020
    • Chair, Finance Committee: 2021
    • Chair, Investments Committee: 2021
    • Strategic Planning Committee: 2020-Present
    • Chair, Strategic Planning Committee: 2020 & 2022
    • Limited Liability Company Officer: 2023
    • Limited Liability Company Committee: 2020-2023; 2025
    • Lawyer Referral and Information Service: 2021
    • Programs and Education Committee: 2020-2021
    • Chair, Programs and Education Committee: 2021
    • Programs and Technology Committee: 2019
    • Committee for Diversity & Inclusion: 2015-Present
    • Public Positions Advisory Group: 2019; 2022-2023
    • Membership Committee: 2019
    • Brand Audit Working Group: 2019
    • Labor and Employment Executive Committee:2015- 2018; Chair 2018
  • National Conference of Bar Presidents
    • Executive Council: present
    • Non-Dues Revenue Committee: 2022-2024
    • Finance Committee: 2023-2024
    • Co-Chair Metro Bar Committee 2024-2025
    • Co-Chair DEI Committee 2025-2026
  • Lawyers Club of San Diego
    • Co-Chair Mentorship Committee: 2018-2019
    • Co-Chair LGTBQ Committee 2020-2022; 2025
    • Bench Bar Committee: 2017-Present
    • Golf Tournament Committee: 2017-2018
  • San Diego LGBTQ Veterans Wall of Honor Advisory Council
Admissions
  • State of California
  • Southern District of California
  • Central District of California
  • Pro Hac Vice Admissions
    • Florida
    • Texas
    • Indiana
    • Virgina
Appointments
  • Past President, County of San Diego Civil Service Commission – appointment by Dianne Jacob September 2020 – May 2025
Organizations
  • California Women Lawyers
  • Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
  • East San Diego County Bar Association
  • Lawyers Club of San Diego
  • National Conference of Bar Presidents
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
  • San Diego County Bar Association
  • Tom Homann Law Association
Volunteer Activities
  • Legal Aid at Work
  • Thomas Jefferson School of Law Self-Help Clinic
  • San Diego County High School Mock Trial
  • San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program
  • SDCBA’s Ask a Lawyer
  • Second Chance San Diego
  • USD National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Tournament
  • UCSD Mock Trial Program