2017 40 Under 40 Honoree: Melissa Bade, 31

As a practitioner of family law for Neal & Newman, Melissa Bade discovered a passion for adoption. This was an area previously under represented at the firm when Bade took the initiative through continuing education to gain the expertise to attract an adoption clientele. Bade describes assisting a couple of her closest friends with the adoption of two baby boys as one of her proudest professional accomplishments. Bade also has served as lead attorney for other facets of family law and assists in many areas of litigation. Bade is an active member of Junior League of Springfield and serves on the boards of Ozarks Counseling Center’s Young Ambassadors and Springfield Catholic Schools Alumni.

What was your first job? Camp counselor at Kanakuk Kamps on Table Rock Lake

When did you realize you had grown up? When I realized it had been a year since I had slept past 8 a.m. on a weekend.

What about your job would shock clients? That I think about their cases much more than when I am just in the office – on the weekends, in the middle of the night, etc. And I don’t bill them for it.

What is your best productivity hack? What I like to call “car line office hours.” I get quite a bit done waiting in car line [to pick up kids at school]. There are way fewer interruptions and distractions when I am alone in the car than at my office.

Have you ever met a celebrity? I met Jennifer Aniston in the bathroom at Mexican Villa when I was in fifth grade. That counts, right?