Melody Weeks Vanderlaan started her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney for the 5th Judicial Circuit in Ocala, Florida. While there she worked in the Misdemeanor and Juvenile Divisions, where she successfully prosecuted both Misdemeanor and Felony cases. She has successfully prosecuted Jury and Non-Jury Trials.

After her career as an Assistant State Attorney, Mrs. Vanderlaan became a Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, overseeing mediations over all family law issues. She then opened her own law practice handling a wide variety of cases including Criminal Law (Criminal Defense), Family Law, and Civil Litigation.