Weldianne Scales

Accomplished legal professional with experience in legal research, litigation, arbitration, and mediation. Skilled in civil litigation, family law, and criminal defense representing clients in various legal proceedings. Proven track record in developing public policies and programs, community engagement, and promoting equality and protection against discrimination. Strong ability to mitigate legal risks, protect rights, and drive compliance. An active member of professional associations and committees, dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal field.

• Bar Admission, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2016
• Bar Admission, United States District Court of Western Pennsylvania, 2016
• Bar Admission, United States Middle District Court of Pennsylvania, 2023

• Recognized as a 2023 Super Lawyers Rising Star, acknowledging exceptional legal skills and achievements.
• Selected as one of the Pittsburgh Courier Fab40 in 2021, highlighting influential African American professionals in the Pittsburgh community.
• Nominated for the Professional Women's Network 2023 Ladies Who Lead Award.
• Provided representation and defense for corporate employers against liability claims under the federal employment labor act, protecting rights and minimizing legal risks.
• Established an Anti-Discrimination Ordinance and a local Human Relations Commission, promoting equality and protecting individuals from discrimination.

• Attorney Member, Allegheny County Bar Association - Homer S. Brown Division
• Appointed, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Arbitration Advisory Committee
• Attorney Member, Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Retention and Community Outreach Committees
• Trustee, Union Baptist Church of Swissvale, Swissvale, United States

• Attorney, Weldianne C. Scales, Attorney At Law, Pittsburgh, PA, 12/2016, Present, Exhibit proficiency in crafting pleadings, motions, briefs, and petitions for a broad range of legal cases including civil, criminal, and immigration matters., Lead transactional contracts for commercial goods and real property transfers, which encompass drafting, negotiation, and review phases., Establish versatile solo litigation practice focusing on real estate transactions, litigation, civil litigation, criminal defense, immigration, and family law matters., Advise, represent, and defend clients across various legal proceedings, ensuring robust protection of legal rights., Demonstrated track record of winning numerous civil and criminal cases, ensuring justice and favorable outcomes for clients., Provided representation and defense for corporate employers against liability and minimized legal risks., Provided representation and defense for corporate clients for the negotiation and creation of contractual agreements., Mentored aspiring law students, sharing knowledge and insights to support career development in the legal profession.
• Vice President of Council, Borough of Swissvale, Pittsburgh, PA, 01/2019, Present, Establish policies recognizing Pride Month, Juneteenth, and Black History Month as borough celebrations and holidays, promoting inclusivity and celebrating diversity., Develop interview procedures and processes for the selection of police personnel, ensuring transparency and professionalism in hiring practices., Became the first black woman elected to serve as a member of the council for the borough of Swissvale, breaking barriers and paving the way for underrepresented voices., Implemented an inter-investigation policy, fostering accountability and integrity in the handling of internal investigations., Drafted and implemented an Anti-Discrimination Ordinance., Implemented a local human relations commission, conducted interviews, and established evaluations of candidates., Managed election campaign for the 2019 Primary and General Election in Pennsylvania., Conduct public hearings and oversee labor and employment relations., Oversee bargaining agreements., Founded and chaired the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee., Successfully developed community engagement practices and hosted the first Juneteenth celebration, fostering unity and celebrating African American history and culture., Oversaw and negotiated bargaining agreements, civil disputes, labor and employment matters, and departments.
• Pro Bono Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services, Pittsburgh, PA, 02/2017, Present, Represent clients in administrative hearings and appeals before appellate courts in matters relating to unemployment compensation., Prepare clients for unemployment compensation cases through research and analysis of relevant laws and regulations., Volunteer to provide pro bono legal assistance to eligible participants., Promoted social justice and equality by providing pro bono legal assistance for expungement and/or sealing of criminal records, enabling individuals to access new opportunities., Defended victims of abuse, providing legal representation and securing protection from further harm., Advocated for and defended victims' Protection from Abuse Petitions, ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals., Defended individuals denied unemployment compensation benefits.
• Candidate, Magisterial District Judge, Pittsburgh, PA, 11/2022, 05/2023, Spearheaded coordination and supervision of a dedicated team of campaign volunteers., Devised and implemented innovative marketing, community engagement, and communication strategies to drive campaign success., Managed field layout and activities to maximize campaign influence and reach., Conducted comprehensive research and analysis of local and state regulations pertaining to judicial elections, ensuring campaign compliance., Fostered valuable networking opportunities to enhance campaign visibility and support., Crafted articulate and persuasive oral arguments for candidate forums, effectively communicating the candidate's platform and garnering support.
• Associate Attorney, Burns White LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, 08/2021, 05/2023, Prepared pleadings, briefs, and motions for civil litigation in both federal and state courts., Defended clients in personal injury claims related to transportation, labor and employment, and tort liability., Analyzed discovery documents to enhance case strategy and uncover vital information., Conducted extensive legal research to keep up-to-date with relevant laws and regulations., Organized through depositions to collect essential case information., Interviewed expert witnesses to gain deeper insights into complex legal matters., Provided representation and defense for corporate employers against liability claims under the federal employment labor act, protecting rights and minimizing legal risks.
• Director of Civil Division, Blaine Jones Law, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, 07/2020, 07/2021, Managed drafting, negotiation, and analysis of contracts relating to the sale or lease of commercial goods, real estate, and real property., Oversaw all facets of real estate transactions, litigation, civil litigation, family law, criminal defense, and immigration., Compiled comprehensive performance reports for the civil division, facilitating strategic decision-making., Conducted thorough depositions, gathering crucial evidence and building strong cases for clients., Prepared and responded to written discovery requests, ensuring compliance with legal obligations and strategically advancing clients' positions., Drafted pleadings and motions for state and federal cases, effectively advocating for clients' interests., Represented and defended against insurance claims in state and federal court, securing favorable outcomes for clients., Advocated for clients in personal injury claims, utilizing legal expertise to pursue fair compensation and justice., Mentored aspiring law students, sharing knowledge and insights to support career development in the legal profession.
• Contract Specialist, GrapeCity Inc, Pittsburgh, PA, 07/2015, 05/2017, Drafted, reviewed, and interpreted complex contractual agreements including partnerships, software licensing, commercial lease agreements, and non-disclosure agreements., Conducted thorough reviews of supplier and vendor registration forms and ensured completion of all action-required notice requirements., Managed contractual deals worth up to $200,000 independently, demonstrating a keen understanding of contract intricacies., Oversaw all licensing agreements for the license of computer software, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and protecting the company's intellectual property., Successfully negotiated contractual deals amounting to over $100,000, optimizing financial outcomes and fostering positive business relationships., Skillfully analyzed contractual risk, identifying potential pitfalls and implementing strategies to mitigate legal and financial liabilities.
• Document Review Attorney, Special Counsel, Pittsburgh, PA, 10/2017, 03/2019, Extract and review litigation documents., Coding of documents for relevance and privilege issues., Reviewed and summarized a variety of different documents., Conduct numerous searches of emails, paper files, and database collections for electronic discovery.

• Legal Research & Analysis
• Contract Drafting & Negotiation
• Compliance & Risk Management
• Administrative Hearings
• Labor & Employment
• Discovery
• Civil Litigation
• Criminal Defense
• Immigration
• Real Estate
• Public Policy
• Pleadings, Motions, & Briefs
• Client Representation & Defense
• Strategic Relationship Building
• Community Engagement
• EDiscovery

• 2023 Rising Star, Super Lawyers
• Fab40, New Pittsburgh Courier

Accomplishments

• Recognized as a 2023 Super Lawyers Rising Star, acknowledging exceptional legal skills and achievements.
• Selected as one of the Pittsburgh Courier Fab40 in 2021, highlighting influential African American
  professionals in the Pittsburgh community.
• Recipient of the CALI Award for excellent achievement in the study of Mortgage Foreclosure Defense.
• Nominated for the Professional Women’s Network 2023 Ladies Who Lead Award.