Melissa Swartz, Esq.

Melissa K. Swartz is a criminal defense attorney in Syracuse, New York, who focuses her practice on criminal law, including appeals, post-conviction motions, and trials in both New York State and federal courts.

Raised in the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Melissa graduated from Queen’s University (Kingston, ON) with a Bachelor of Arts and then pursued a Master of Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science (London, UK). While at LSE, Melissa focused her graduate dissertation on violent female offenders and the cultural notations that impact punishment. Melissa attended Syracuse University College of Law where she tailored her coursework, internships and extra-curricular activities to criminal law. As a first-year law student, Melissa was named a “Standout Student” by the Daily Orange for her volunteer work at Auburn Correctional Facility, a men’s maximum-security prison, where she tutored offenders for their GED exam.

She worked as an intern with the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office in Syracuse, New York during her first law school summer, then as an extern, earning course credit, during the academic year. She interned with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York during her second summer. In her third year of law school, she volunteered 40 hours a week at the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, where she eventually earned a full-time paid position after graduating in 2014. As the legal research coordinator for the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, Melissa responded to appellate briefs submitted to County Court, the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and the Court of Appeals. During her time at the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, Melissa was able to focus on complex legal issues and highly contested criminal cases, specifically homicide cases and cold case files.

In June 2018, Melissa joined Cambareri & Brenneck and has brought her vast experience and focused knowledge to the defense of those in need of her services. Melissa is a dedicated professional with the experience and background that make her an asset to Cambareri & Brenneck and her clients.