Rachael Melford has always been curious about people, what shapes their experiences, and what lies beneath the surface of a story.

That curiosity is central to her work as an attorney investigator at Oppenheimer Investigations Group. For Rachael, understanding what happened begins with an openness to what people have to say, especially when the circumstances are difficult or sensitive.

She also cares deeply about how people experience the investigative process. When someone leaves a conversation with her, she hopes they feel valued and heard. In fact, she has had interviewees tell her afterward that the conversation felt more like a therapy session than an interview.

Rachael’s Approach to Investigations

One piece of advice has been especially influential in shaping her approach: unlike litigation and advocacy, where attorneys distinguish between “good” and “bad” facts, investigations simply involve the facts. That distinction matters to Rachael. An investigator’s responsibility is to understand what happened, rather than approach the evidence through the lens of a desired outcome.

Beyond the Office

Outside of investigations, Rachael’s interests extend to the natural world and some of its biggest mysteries. Her water bottle is decorated with a moth and moon design, because Rachael feels deeply connected to nature and remains fascinated by its many beings, as well as all things celestial.

Rachael has also been captivated by The Telepathy Tapes, a podcast exploring reported telepathic communication among nonspeaking individuals. The subject is particularly personal for her because she has family members on the autism spectrum who are nonverbal.

She says the podcast is fascinating and recommends it as an interesting listen for anyone, regardless of having a personal or familial connection with the main themes.