Michael McConnell, Attorney

Michael McConnell joined Melrose, Seago & Lay in 2007. His practice focuses on personal injury, state and federal Indian law, municipal law, ordinance drafting, contracts, residential construction and civil litigation. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association.

Mr. McConnell was raised in Rockville, Maryland. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and his law degree from Seattle University School of Law, graduating with a J.D. in 1988.

After law school, Mr. McConnell moved to Boise, Idaho, where he obtained his Idaho law license. From 1988 to 2001, he lived in Boise and practiced law first as a research attorney in the Idaho State Law Library, serving the judges of the Idaho Supreme Court, the Idaho Court of Appeals and attorneys in private practice. During that time he served on the Supreme Court's Legal Technology Committee. In 1992, he became a law clerk for the Honorable Jesse R. Walters, Chief Judge (retired) of the Idaho Court of Appeals. From 1996 until 2001, he served as a Senior Legal Analyst in the Legislative Services Office of the Idaho Legislature. In that position, Mr. McConnell staffed a variety of legislative committees, including those governing parks and recreation, fish and game, agricultural affairs, natural resources and Indian affairs. He also served on the Idaho committee to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

Mr. McConnell obtained his North Carolina law license in 2000 and a year later he and his family moved to Waynesville, North Carolina. In 2001, he began practicing law as a tribal attorney for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the only federally-recognized Indian tribe in North Carolina. From 2006 to 2007, Mr. McConnell was the tribe's Attorney General. When he was with the tribe, Mr. McConnell provided legal advice and assistance to the principal chief and vice-chief, the Tribal Council and individual tribal programs dealing with enrollment; dis-enrollment; business regulation; housing; leases; possessory interests; federal, state and local relationships; construction; contracts; and many others.

Mr. McConnell is an experienced motorcyclist: he is a former WERA roadracer and past-president of a motorcycle trail riding association. Having reached a suitable age for reflection, Mr. McConnell has advanced his interest in housing and residential construction and is ex officio member of the board of the Haywood (County) Habitat for Humanity. He and his family are members of the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, where he serves on the Missions Committee. He and his wife have two children.