Attorney Jennifer Lawrence is pictured with her children, Karis and Jonas.
(Photo courtesy of Jennifer Lawrence)
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Attorney Jennifer Lawrence, new president of the Washtenaw County Bar Association, started college intending to major in criminal justice, planning to follow in the footsteps of her father and brother, who both served as police officers.
But her father urged her to obtain a four-year degree before starting the police academy.
And so Lawrence earned a business degree, with a focus on paralegal studies. After graduating, she worked as a contract paralegal for large firms on anti-trust litigation and then doing discovery investigations for the automotive industry. Later she worked for a firm primarily practicing in Intellectual property and corporate law.
The experience made her yearn to go further into the legal field; but says she never imagined she would attend law school.
“I’m the first lawyer in my family and I didn’t make the decision to go to law school until I was 26. I always knew I wanted to do something legally related but I didn’t realize my goal was to practice law until I was working at a firm”
She attended Cooley Law School, and during her final semester, interned with a firm specializing in criminal defense.
Then client asked her to draft a settlement agreement for their divorce and she found her passion during that time for family law.
Lawrence also offers clients her experience in real estate, debt counseling, high asset, tax planning and business division in a family law case; misdemeanor criminal defense cases, civil litigation, and domestic partnership agreements.
“Throughout my career and as an early associate I was asked to take every case that walked in the door—and during that time I became proficient in real estate transactions, criminal cases, and civil cases,” she says. “When I began my own firm I opened my door to clients who were dealing with any of these issues because they all involved the family dynamic in some aspect. Now I primarily focus on family law but I’m able to use my skillset for other areas when needed”.
Lawrence also is trained in collaborative divorce and parenting coordination.
“Family cases require various approaches—no case is a one sized fits all,” she says. “I encourage all clients to look to a collaborative divorce or mediation before they go to court. There are so many reasons for this including financial security, maintaining civility for children and to preserve the co-parenting relationship if possible. Unfortunately not all cases can be settled civilly and when they can’t I’m also comfortable in the courtroom as a last result.”
Estate planning is another facet of her business, and she looks on that as a form of family law.
“I’ve seen the dynamics in families become very contentious when a family member becomes ill or a money is involved,” she says. “I tell clients the best gift they can give their families is a good estate plan that’s updated regularly.”
Lawrence, who took over the gavel from Samuel Bernstein and began her presidential tenure on July 1, has been an active member in the Washtenaw County Bar association from the beginning of her career and has enjoyed the networking and camaraderie.
“I joined the board 14 years ago and have found the membership invaluable,” she says. “Many of the colleagues I’ve met were individuals who practiced different areas of law but shared a goal of working together to provide a resource for the attorneys of Washtenaw.
“Being an attorney—and a parent and business owner—is hard work,” she adds. “It’s a challenge to find a work/life balance in this field. My goal as WCBA president is to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment to all members of the bar for networking, social activities and continuing legal education.”
Lawrence also joined the Women Lawyers Association when she first began practicing. “The organization has also been an important part of my practice and serving as the president of the Washtenaw Chapter was a hi-light of my career,” she says.
Lawrence’s husband Jason owns a business in Ann Arbor; and the couple has two children: Karis who is starting 5th grade, and Jonas who is starting 2nd grade in the fall.
Lawrence’s favorite pastimes are using her Peloton bike, yoga and attending her children’s sporting events. She also serves on the State Bar Character and Fitness committee and does presentations regularly on family law.
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