About Melvin O. Shaw – Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty Attorney 

The Law Office of Melvin O. Shaw, P.L.C. is a general practice law firm that handles real estate, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, probate, and business law, contracts, and other areas.  The firm serves clients in Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, and other cities in Johnson, Linn, Washington and Cedar counties.

Melvin graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2004 and he  earned an M.A. from the University of Iowa in 1997.  Melvin earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Melvin is Vice President of the Iowa State Bar Association (2022). He is a member of the ISBA Sections on Probate, Real Estate, and Business Law.  

Melvin is an elected Member of the Iowa State Bar Association Board of Governors (2018) and was appointed in 2018 as Member of the Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission by the late Chief Justice Mark Cady of the Iowa Supreme Court.

Melvin is Secretary and Member-at-Large, American Bar Association General Practice/Solo Division.  He is a GPSolo Division Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates, and is Chair, GPSolo Real Estate Committee.

Melvin joined the Iowa Legal Aid Board of Directors in 2019.

Melvin is a Steward, Bethel A.M.E. Church, Iowa City, Iowa, and has held various roles at the church since 2002.

Melvin was President of the Johnson County Bar Association (2017-2018) and served as its Vice President (2016-2017), Treasurer (2015-2014), and Secretary (2013-2104).   Melvin has presented on real estate topics for the ISBA and for National Business Institute (NBI).

He served as President, Board of Trustees, The Housing Fellowship (2018-2021), Vice President and Treasurer (2017-2018), and served on the Board of Trustees for THF starting 2013.

Presentations

“Mend Your Fences and Mind Your Boundaries: A Look at Iowa Case Law on Boundary Fences and the Question of Acquiescence” (2022); “Easements”, University of Iowa Law School CLE (October 2019), “Easements” (Panel Presentation), Iowa State Bar Association Real Estate CLE (June 2019); Limited Liability Companies, “Why Limited Liability Companies” for the National Business Institute (November 2014) The Probate Process from A to Z, “Uncovering the Laws of Intestacy and How They May Apply”, National Business Institute (October 2011) The Probate Process from A to Z, “Determining if Spouse’s Elective Share is a Reasonable Option”, National Business Institute (October 2011) The Probate Process from Start to Finish, “Taking the First Step: Filing an Estate in Probate Court”, National Business Institute (October 2009) The Probate Process from Start to Finish, “Determining if Spouse’s Elective Share is a Reasonable Option”, National Business Institute (October 2009) The Probate Process from Start to Finish, “Determining if Spouse’s Elective Share is a Reasonable Option”, National Business Institute (October 2008)  

Community Focused

Steward at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Iowa City. Co-chair of the Building Expansion and Renovation Project at Bethel A.M.E. Church (2005 to 2010) Trustee, Board of Trustees of The Housing Fellowship (2012 to present) Member, Iowa City Charter Review Commission (2014 to 2015) Member, Board of Directors, Community Foundation of Johnson County (July 2014 to 2017) Grant Allocation Committee, Community Foundation of Johnson County (2013 to 2017) Member, Board of Directors, University of Iowa Black Alumni Association (2013 to 2018) Member, Board for Systems Unlimited, Inc. (January 2014 to September 2014)