ALYSSA H. KNISELY

Alyssa Harland Knisely was born and raised in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania – home of ‘the Bubblers’.

Alyssa attended Boiling Springs Jr. /Sr. High School, where she was a cheerleader and avid equestrian, and worked part-time for her family’s business, Knisely’s Pet & Farm Center, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Upon her graduation from Boiling Springs in 1999, Alyssa attended Harrisburg Area Community College for two (2) years; and then transferred to Shippensburg University. During her college years, Alyssa continued to work part-time with her family’s business.

Alyssa graduated from Shippensburg University Cum Laude with her BA in Political Science in 2003.

Alyssa continued her education at the Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. While at Widener, Alyssa continued to work part-time for her family and dedicated a significant amount of time and hard work to the Trial Advocacy Honor Society competing in numerous trial competitions, and serving as the external Vice President in her third year.

Alyssa was also the founding member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and served as the President of this organization in both her second and third year. While at Widener, Alyssa also attended and graduated from the Law and Government Institute, and received the Widener University School of Law Distinguished Service Award.

Alyssa maintained several internships during law school, including positions with the Honorable Richard A. Lewis, Judge, Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, The Law Offices of Steve Rice, Esquire in Gettysburg, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division.

Upon graduation from law school in 2007, Alyssa was offered, and accepted, a position as a Certified Legal Intern with the Dauphin County Office of the Public Defender pending results of both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar exams. After passing both, Alyssa was offered, and graciously accepted, an Assistant Public Defender position. During her career as a Public Defender, Alyssa handled a vast number of criminal matters from the preliminary through trial and Appellate levels, as well as Children and Youth Dependency cases.

Alyssa works in the Criminal and Family Law division of Kope & Associates, representing clients in a vast array of matters. Alyssa is admitted to practice in all Pennsylvania State and the United States Middle District Federal Courts. She is a member of the Pennsylvania State, and Cumberland, Dauphin, and York County Bar Associations. She is affiliated with the Pennsylvania Association of Trial Lawyers and the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Alyssa can be reached at