Attorney Melaniece Bardley McKnight is originally from Gary, Indiana and the founding partner of Bardley McKnight & Associates, LLC.

McKnight attended undergraduate school at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale on a full basketball scholarship where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. Attorney McKnight earned a Juris Doctorate degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina.While pursuing her law degree, McKnight was Secretary of the Student Bar Association her second year and President her third year. McKnight was also a travelling member of the Mock Trial team and was active in the Criminal Defense Clinic.

While at NCCU School of Law, McKnight interned with Couch and Associates, a general practice firm and the world-renowned civil firm Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson & Gary, PL in Stuart, Florida.

After graduating from NCCU School of Law, McKnight began her legal career as an Assistant Solicitor General in Clayton County, Georgia. While there, McKnight fine tuned her litigation skills and acquired sold trial experience. Attorney McKnight’s work ethic, trial skills, integrity, and presence in the courtroom caught the attention of many defense attorneys who encouraged her to go out on her own.

After just eight short months serving as a prosecutor, McKnight entered private practice on May 26, 2004 and formed Bardley & Associates, LLC. The firm name was later changed to Bardley McKnight & Associates, LLC.

McKnight specializes in Family Law, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Law. She zealously handles divorces, legitimization actions, child support matters, custody modifications, adoptions, guardianship’s, and a host of other family law matters. McKnight has a passion for families. She aggressively advocates for parents in juvenile court to assist them in regaining custody of their children. McKnight handles criminal cases ranging from Driving Under the Influence (DUI) to serious felony offenses. As a natural litigator, McKnight is most comfortable inside a courtroom.

Attorney McKnight is admitted to practice in the Superior and State Courts of Georgia, The Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. She is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Family Law and Criminal Law sections.

McKnight’s passion for justice extends far beyond the courtroom and she is active in a multitude of professional and civic organizations. A firm believer in supporting her community, McKnight is a volunteer and mentor with the Speak Life Foundation and The Cool Girls, Inc.