14 www.lawyer-monthly.com Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2024 lawyer. They often don’t realize that they will likely need to seek the services of many other professionals as well, depending on the nature of their relationship and the needs at the time of a breakup. The more informed and helped people are, the better able they are to make good decisions. My desire to create a safe place for people and their families going through a major life change like separation, to meet and discuss their needs with a variety of professionals from many sectors, is what inspired me to do the first-ever Divorce Expo. The primary objectives of the Divorce Expo are to inform, empower, and educate people and their families who are finding themselves having to navigate the complexities of separation or divorce. It will happen at a convention center and host keynote speakers on topics relevant to families, including co-parenting specialists, advisors breaking down budgets, and how to manage a tight cash flow, or tips for running a home on one income now. The mantra is leave the judgment at the door, hold your head high, cut the stigma and come and be empowered! It is time to evolve. Separation and divorce happen every single day, and that is not going to change. Let’s face it. Let’s help those people and their families come out of it better and stronger. The last time we spoke in 2023, you spoke eloquently about the unique challenges faced by women in the legal profession. Since then, have there been any significant developments or new strategies you’ve employed to further navigate or mitigate these challenges? Being a woman in any profession imposes challenges not experienced by male counterparts. J. Donovan Law Group, being owned and led by a very determined woman with a vision for more that never ends, is acutely aware of the needs of working women. Whether we are dealing with maternity leaves, a staff member needing time off to care for aging parents, or having to stay home suddenly because a child is sick and can’t go to school and there is no other childcare option, my mindset is “do what you got to do.” When needed, I will shoulder extra responsibility for my staff if one of them is needed at home or elsewhere. We are a strong cohesive unit, with each of us always eager and ready to help another. It is about being there for each other and understanding what is needed. I encourage my team to reach as high as possible and will help each of them succeed in any way they desire. Women helping women is our daily goal. Jennifer, you are currently undertaking a significant project with the first Divorce Expo in New Brunswick, a groundbreaking event. What inspired you to initiate it, and what are your primary objectives for this expo? About 1.5 years ago, the idea of a divorce expo came to my mind. I primarily practice family law - separation and divorce - and all matters arising therefrom. For the last 20 years, I have been helping people navigate breakdowns in their relationships. With each and every new client, at the first consultation, I spend time advising them of other professional services outside of legal, including financial advisors, trustees in bankruptcies, therapists, counselors, social workers, real estate agents, bankers, and so on. When people find themselves at the end of a relationship, the first professional they tend to think of needing is a Family Law Litigation Lawyer of the Year “We are a strong cohesive unit, with each of us always eager and ready to help another. It is about being there for each other and understanding what is needed.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk3Mzkz