your partner for
Good Trouble
Just Action Advisors helps nonprofits, lawyers, law firms, and justice-minded philanthropists grow impact with a focus on social good.
We help you tackle problems, build your networks, and develop resources through creative problem solving, connections, and guidance for success.
About us
Just Action Advisors helps nonprofits, lawyers, law firms, and justice-minded philanthropists grow impact with a focus on social good. We help you tackle problems, build your networks, and develop resources through creative problem solving, connections, and guidance for success.
Aristotle and Plato noted “just action” can both produce and preserve happiness, and all of us in society have a role – large or small - to ensure fairness and community well-being. Just Action Advisors help you move ideas from a philosophy to an action step. We help you create solutions for your mission critical work.
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In addition to Aristotle and Plato, Just Action Advisors takes inspiration from the book by Richard Rothstein and Leah Rothstein, Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law (2023). Just Action Advisors has a friendship but no formal relationship with the authors or their book.
What we can do for YOU
Taking “just action” requires movement forward, and we provide the guidance you need when the time is right. Inquire today about how we can collaborate.
Get Moving: Philanthropy Guidance
You want to create impact through your mission or your giving – but you need a nudge to get moving. We provide advising for nonprofits, foundations, and individuals who want to make a difference for justice-focused missions and projects.
Leap Forward: Nonprofit Capacity Building
We help nonprofits take their external affairs practice to the next level. Our work builds capacity for public relations, fundraising, and government relations. And, for the nonprofit surprised with that exceptional one-time gift, we provide guidance on how to leverage the impact of that philanthropy.
Seize the Moment: Law Firm Pro Bono Counsel Guidance
We provide vision, strategy, and long-term planning assistance for leaders who run pro bono practices in law firms. Consulting work includes networking and introductions to key other leaders in the legal aid and nonprofit community to help build collaborations and create impact together.
Dive In: Attorney Coaching
That encouragement to “dive in” sounds different from someone with a new perspective. We work with attorneys in law firms and in-house corporate departments to realize success and fulfillment in their career through guidance on pro bono, public service and leadership opportunities.
Explore Ideas: Training and Speaking Engagements
Taking “just action” is a practice, and ongoing practice requires training. We provide substantive professional development and continuing legal education focused on civil justice, civic engagement, and community service. We can tailor a program based on client needs, and offer follow-up individual coaching.
Take charge: Fractional Services, Referrals, Leadership Search
When that key leader needs on-site help or you have a leadership staff transition - we can become a temporary part of your C-suite, doing work on-site to help maintain the vision and focus of the team. We also provide referrals to other consultants and assistance with leadership searches.
We collaborate and partner to help you.
Just Action Advisors works with experts from a variety of industries to ensure the best service based on a client’s project.
More About Us
President and CEO Melanie Shakarian, an attorney by training, has more than 25 years of experience in the legal and nonprofit community.
Immediately prior to Just Action Advisors, Melanie led philanthropy, public relations, government relations and communications for The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, a nonprofit law firm of 150 staff, impacting more than 25,000 people annually. Melanie also worked for Catholic Charities and in a private law firm. She is a graduate of John Carroll University (BA), Case Western Reserve University (JD), and the Weatherhead School of Management and the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations (CNM). She is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland 2015, and a recipient of a German Marshall Fund Fellowship (2018). She is a trustee for the Cleveland Public Library, a public library system with one of the largest collections in the United States.
Melanie has a great team working with her – collaborating consultants who are experts from a variety of industries. She works to ensure the best service is provided based on a client’s project goals.
While our lead team member is a barred attorney with an active license, we do not provide legal services. We only provide consulting work.
Our latest news
What's in a Name?
Melanie Shakarian launches Just Action Advisors
Melanie Shakarian, instrumental in Cleveland Legal Aid’s success, set to leave agency
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Contact Us:
Address:
Cleveland, OH
Email:
melanie@justactionadvisors.com
Phone:
216.586.4675