About Melissa
Melissa Paniagua earned her Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2019. She completed her legal studies after a three-year program that culminated in the J.D., and she moved into practice soon after graduation. Her academic background provided the foundation for her work as a young lawyer in Florida.
She is admitted to practice in Florida. Soon after finishing law school she joined Vasquez de Lara Law group as an associate in 2019. That role placed her in day-to-day client work, including research, drafting pleadings and agreements, and supporting courtroom preparation. Colleagues describe her as steady in the routine demands of firm practice and willing to take on detail-oriented assignments.
Her early professional years have included membership in the Dominican American Bar Association, where she has been listed as a member since 2019. That affiliation has kept her connected to a network of lawyers practicing across a range of fields in South Florida. Participation in bar activities and local legal events has been part of how she stayed engaged with peers and the broader legal community.
At Vasquez de Lara Law group she has continued in the associate role she began in 2019. Her workload has involved client interviews, preparing legal memoranda, negotiating on behalf of clients when appropriate and assisting senior attorneys in trial or transactional settings. The hands-on experience at the firm has shaped her practical understanding of case strategy and client communication.
Paniagua's approach to cases is practical and methodical. She tends to emphasize clear written work and careful preparation. Those traits have been useful in a busy firm environment where deadlines and client expectations are constant. She has sought assignments that expand her courtroom and negotiation experience while keeping up with the procedural aspects of practice.
As of 2026 she continues to work at Vasquez de Lara Law group in Florida. She remains active in the Dominican American Bar Association and engaged in the firm’s client work. She practices at Vasquez de Lara Law group in Florida, representing clients and advising on legal matters handled by the firm.
