Jessica has worked in various roles in the legal industry since 2003, having studied law as a mature age student and having a baby while at university. Her extensive legal experience in administrative roles in different areas of law is invaluable. Her passion is Family Law, and she has practiced Family Law predominantly since she was admitted to practice as a solicitor in February 2015.
Jessica is experienced in all areas of Family Law including complex parenting matters, property settlements following the breakdown of a marriage or a de facto relationship, and divorces. As she has a blended family herself, she understands the challenges from firsthand experience. She is experienced at representing clients through mediation processes and has extensive experience litigating matters in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
As a mother and stepmother, and a qualified Independent Children’s Lawyer, Jessica particularly enjoys assisting clients to come to resolutions that are child-focused. She is solutions and resolutions-focused. She strives for all children to have meaningful relationships with both parents and other important people in their lives, provided these relationships are safe and, in the children’s best interests.
Jessica is passionate about supporting women and their health and wellbeing. She is the Chairwoman on the board for the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre which is a local not-for-profit organisation that provides support to women in the Illawarra including victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence. The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre is creating the Australian first Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre after having received funding from the government to do so. The Centre provides trauma-informed services and support to women.
She was born and raised in the Illawarra and has strong ties to the region. She is on the Legal Aid panel of lawyers, and it is important for her to give back to the community in which she has been raised and raises her children.
Jessica is an avid supporter of women in the legal industry. She is the Immediate Past Chairwoman for the Wollongong Chapter of the Women Lawyer’s Association and has been involved for several years as a mentor for the Lucy Mentoring Program, which is run by the University of Wollongong and pairs female law students with local female lawyers.
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