Education
Western Michigan University (B.A. summa cum laude 2018); Western Michigan University Cooley Law School (J.D. summa cum laude 2021); Executive Articles Editor of the WMU Cooley Law Review; Judicial Extern to the Honorable Janet T. Neff, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan (2020)
Professional Affiliations
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, member
- GRBA Young Lawyers Section, Vice President
- State Bar of Michigan, member
- SBM Young Lawyers Section, member
- SBM Negligence Law Section, member
- Federal Bar Association, Western Michigan Chapter, member
- Woman Lawyers Association of Michigan, Western Region, member
- Michigan Association of Justice
- Executive Board Member
- Women’s Caucus, Vice Chair
- Leadership Academy Planning Board, Chair
- American Association for Justice, member
Awards and Achievements
- Grand Rapids Bar Association 2025 “3 in 10” Recipient
- Grand Rapids Magazine’s 2025 Top Lawyer
- Super Lawyer – “Rising Star” – 2025
- Michigan Association of Justice 2023 Leadership Academy Graduate
- Ranked first in the Western Michigan University Cooley Law William Burnham Woods Class
- Alumni Distinguished Student Award
- Dawn C. Beachnau Award for best board member on WMU Cooley Law Review
- Leadership Achievement Award
- Phi Delta Phi, member
Community Service
- Grand Rapids Bar Association, 3Rs Faculty Member
- Law Clerk by special appointment to the Attorney Grievance Discipline Panel in Attorney Grievance Commission v. Charron
- Veterans Legal Clinic, West Michigan Veteran Assistance Program
- Tenant Law Clinic, Urban League of West Michigan
Speaking Engagements
- Cross Examining Police on Vehicle Black Box Data/EDR, Michigan Association for Justice 2023 Winter Summit on Litigation Strategies
- Basics of Accident Investigation and EDR Black Box Data, SBM Negligence Section Annual Meeting 2024
- Pre-Lawsuit Investigation and Discovery Tactics, Michigan Association for Justice 2024 Leadership Academy Capstone
Testimonials
“Melissa Heinz at Gruel Mills is an extraordinary attorney who genuinely goes above and beyond in her service. From the moment we first met, her kindness, friendliness, and sincere care for my case were evident. She is not just a lawyer; she is a trusted advocate who truly cares about her clients’ well-being .My family has trusted this law firm for years with our car accident cases, and Melissa went above and beyond our expectations. Recently, I went through a horrible experience where I was ran over by a drunk driver. The police told me the driver had no insurance, and I honestly thought there was no chance of getting any settlement. But Melissa worked tirelessly and turned everything around. She fought hard and got me a very substantial settlement that I didn’t think was possible. What really makes Melissa special is her compassion and dedication. She’s not just an expert in her field, but she also makes you feel like family. She kept me informed every step of the way, reassured me when I had doubts, and was always there to answer my questions. I can wholeheartedly say that she is the only lawyer I completely trust. Melissa’s knowledge of the law and strategic approach were also truly impressive. Her expertise and relentless dedication turned the situation around. I can’t say enough good things about her. If you need an attorney who is not only highly skilled but also truly cares about you, Melissa Heinz is the one to call. She has made a huge difference in my life, and I’m beyond grateful for everything she’s done!” – TA
“My daughter was just walking home from a friend’s house in our neighborhood when a dog suddenly bit through her hand. The bite was bad enough, but the hardest part was what happened next…the owners said, “oh..you’re ok. you’re ok.” and then hurried away from my crying little girl. Once she was taken care of, the logistics of managing insurance, the bills, and process was overwhelming. We were being bullied by multiple institutions. The Humane Society pointed us to Melissa at Gruel Mills, and that was the best referral we could have gotten. From the start, Melissa outlined the path forward and the steps…exactly what needed to happen with bills, insurance, therapy, treatment, negotiations process and what we could expect. The best part: we didn’t have to handle any of the logistics. She’d take care of all of it and keep us informed at each step. There was no hourly charge or bills from Gruel Mills. They were partners with us to get this taken care of. After we settled the case, what stood out the most was how much Melissa fought for us, maintained consistent communication even during massive insurance pushback, and balanced the genuine care for our daughter. The check-in’s, updates, never left us wondering what was going on. If you want someone who is both sharp and compassionate, someone you can actually trust to get the job done, I recommend Melissa without hesitation.” – RW
“Attorney Melissa is top notch! She was recommended by a friend who said “my boss, Melissa” can help you with your injury. From the beginning a year ago Melissa has been kind, compassionate, empathetic, her commitment to me has simply been the best! She also has a great sense of humor! I not only gained an attorney I gained a friend! Highly recommend Melissa at Gruel Mills. Thank you Melissa and Gruel Mills for everything you have done!” – BW
“After being in a serious auto accident, we were recommended to reach out to Melissa at Gruel Mills and it was one of the best decisions we have ever made. Not only is she a fierce advocate for her clients, she understands how the systems work and is an excellent communicator and negotiator all around. She is kind and empathetic, and stood as a firewall between the overwhelming insurance company’s pushback and myself, which allowed me to focus on recovery. We never had to question what was going an as she regularly updated us, is quick on her feet with problem solving, and goes above and beyond simply because she cares. I am so grateful to have her by our side during one of the hardest seasons of our life.” – EL
‘”We were referred by a friend over to Melissa for a dog bite incident that happened in our neighborhood. From the very beginning she took time to understand our situation and then outlined what the process would look like from the start to the beginning so we knew what we were getting into. This type of situation was very new to us but Melissa took the stress out of it and really coached us along the way to get to the outcome that we were hoping for. She had great follow-through and showed a lot of empathy for the situation that we were in. We would definitely recommend her!” – JP
