Malden City Council appoints Attorney Alicia McNeil as City Solicitor – first person of color to serve as Malden City Solicitor

By Mark Rumley, Special Counsel, City of Malden

The Malden City Council did not wait until the first of January to “ring in the new.” At its meeting on December 12, 2023, the Council was unanimous in its decision to appoint Alicia McNeil Malden’s newest City Solicitor. Attorney McNeil is the first person of color to serve as City Solicitor in Malden’s history.

Alicia’s ascension to the Solicitor’s position was foretold at the December 20, 2022, meeting of the Malden City Council when it initially appointed John McNaught as City Solicitor following the departure of City Solicitor Kate Fallon to Framingham. On the night of his appointment, John described his assistants, saying that Attorney McNeil has done “an enormously good job” and would make a “wonderful City Solicitor.”

Alicia received her Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School. Following her admission to the Massachusetts and Federal Bar, she engaged in private practice concentrating on civil and criminal litigation.

Attorney McNeil is a member of the Melrose Women’s Commission and Treasurer of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In yet another first, Solicitor McNeil will take office this month as the President of the Lawrence Bar Association. She will be the first Black person to serve in that position.

Alicia initially came to the Law Department in July 2021 when she was appointed Assistant City Solicitor by former Malden Solicitor Kate Fallon, who called it “one of the best decisions I made … it was clear to me early on that Ali could easily transition to the role of City Solicitor.” Kate went on to say that Solicitor McNeil “is a talented attorney who tackles her work with patience, grace and a whole lot of grit. She will lead the Malden legal team well.”

Malden Mayor Gary Christenson joined the many who applauded Alicia’s appointment with great anticipation. The Mayor said, “I couldn’t be more proud of Alicia. I look forward to her leadership as Solicitor and I am confident that Malden will greatly benefit from her guidance in the years to come.”