Michelle Z. Maleky

Michelle Maleky is an Associate Attorney at Knapp, Petersen & Clarke, where she brings a multifaceted background and a passion for advocacy to every matter she handles.

Michelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology / Criminology from California State University, Northridge, followed by a Master’s in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of California, Irvine. She went on to earn her J.D. from Southwestern Law School, proudly rounding out her academic journey as a Bison.

Before joining KPC, Michelle honed her legal skills through a variety of hands-on experiences. She completed a judicial internship at the Van Nuys Criminal Courthouse, partnered with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Neighborhood Prosecutor Program, and spent a year with Loyola’s Project for the Innocent, where she worked on cases with real impact. She also explored the world of intellectual property during a summer with a trademark and copyright attorney. Most recently, she completed her post-bar fellowship with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), gaining direct litigation experience alongside the legal team at Knapp, Petersen & Clarke, a plaintiff’s firm, and a civil judge.

When she’s not deep in legal research or tending to her cases, Michelle is a fashion enthusiast and self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur. As a true Libra, she may be indecisive about which dessert to order—but never about advocating fiercely for her clients. She’s often joined by her loyal sidekick and pet bunny, Bunilla Ice, who enjoys blueberries and keeping her company as she navigates through the world of civil litigation.