About Melinda Queen
Melinda Queen Taylor earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina–Columbia in 1996, after completing an associate degree in Public Service–Criminal Justice at Midlands Technical College in 1995. She returned to law school and received her J.D. from Charlotte School of Law in 2013. Those academic steps set a steady course from criminal justice into the practice of civil and family law.
Taylor began her legal career at South Carolina Legal Services, first as a law clerk in 2013 and then as a staff lawyer in 2014. Those early years were spent representing clients who relied on legal aid for disputes that affect daily life. She gained courtroom exposure and handled a variety of domestic relations matters while working inside a nonprofit legal environment.
In 2019 Taylor took over leadership of the Family Law Unit at South Carolina Legal Services. She supervised casework and helped shape strategy for high-volume family law matters. The post required balancing direct client representation with mentoring other attorneys and coordinating services across the organization.
After nearly a decade at South Carolina Legal Services, Taylor moved into private practice. In 2022 she joined Collins Family Law Group as a lawyer. The transition shifted her focus toward representing individual clients in contested divorces, custody disputes, child support issues and related proceedings. She has continued to handle courtroom hearings, negotiated settlements and participated in mediations on behalf of clients.
Taylor is admitted to practice in South Carolina and before the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. She is a member of the Richland County Bar Association. That local bar involvement keeps her connected to the county’s bench and bar and to developments in state family law practice.
Her career traces a clear line from public service to private practice. She carries experience in both nonprofit legal aid and a family law firm. Taylor currently practices family law at Collins Family Law Group, representing clients in custody, support and divorce matters.
