About Synthia
Synthia Melton took an unconventional path to the bench of community leadership. She earned her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2007 and moved into practice in Washington state. Her legal training forms the backbone of a career that has been paired closely with civic and nonprofit work.
Early in her career she combined casework and client counseling with volunteer roles. Over time those volunteer roles grew into formal board service. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Rental Housing Association of Washington and on the Board of Directors of YWCA King Snohomish. She also sits on the Advisory Board of the Washington Women’s Business Center. Those posts keep her connected to policy discussions affecting housing, small business owners and community services.
Colleagues describe her as a steady presence at board meetings. She brings legal judgment to budget reviews, governance questions and policy debates. On issue-oriented panels she often frames options in plain language, laying out risks and likely outcomes. That practical style reflects classroom training and years of hands-on work advising clients and organizations.
Her public service extends beyond board titles. In smaller nonprofits and business groups she has taken on mentoring and advisory roles. She has lent legal insight to entrepreneurs working through start-up concerns and to organizations navigating regulatory requirements. The advisory role at the Washington Women’s Business Center, in particular, puts her in regular contact with women business owners seeking guidance on structure, compliance and growth strategies.
Throughout, Melton has maintained the professional routines lawyers follow: staying current on statutes and case law, advising on contracts and governance, and helping clients assess legal exposure. Her peers note an ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical next steps for boards and small businesses.
She occupies a space where law and community engagement meet. That position has shaped the matters she takes on and the audiences she serves. She currently focuses her practice on housing-related matters and legal issues affecting community organizations.
