Litigation, Mediation & Collaborative Divorce in Canada – Jennifer L. Donovan

J. Donovan Law Group -

Interview

Litigation, Mediation & Collaborative Divorce in Canada – Jennifer L. Donovan

Welcome to a special front cover feature for the Lawyer Monthly Women In Law Awards, where we spotlight Jennifer L. Donovan, founder of J. Donovan Law Group. In this exclusive interview, Jennifer shares her insights on creating a non- traditional law firm that champions inclusivity, accessibility, and a supportive work environment, especially for women and mothers in the legal field. With a unique approach to client relations and a strong emphasis on community and mentoring, Jennifer’s narrative is both inspiring and empowering. Join us as we discuss her innovative strategies, her impactful community initiatives, and her vision for the future of legal practice.

Jennifer, can you share with us the core mission of the Jennifer L. Donovan Law Group and how it influences your approach to law?

The core mission of J. Donovan Law Group is to provide excellent legal services to everyone we can while being relatable and down to earth. From the moment I decided to go out on my own and start J. Donovan Law Group, I wanted my firm to be non-traditional. I wanted the predominant image of my firm to be that of working hard/playing hard, one of fun, comprised of relatable, hard-working women and mothers, with the girl next door vibes. Our office décor inspires spa vibes, too, which is quite non-traditional. Now, 5.5 years later, we have kept our individuality from traditional law firms and have amassed a large following who, I believe, would quickly agree that we have lived up to the image I sought to create almost 6 years ago. J. Donovan Law Group is different. I believe my colleagues would agree as well. That core mission has influenced my approach to law, mainly in how I interact with my clients and my team and how I market our legal services. It is a huge compliment when a client says that I am so easy to talk to, that I made them feel quickly at ease, that I am a great listener, and that, like other mothers, I too have to balance the high demands of being a parent while working full time.

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 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.

How do you envision the Divorce Expo benefiting attendees, and what key resources or experiences will it offer?

Firstly, by attending, guests will see that they are not alone. Separation or divorce can isolate people and undoubtedly affect their mental and physical health. Being around other people going through a similar life change or having already gone through a separation will hopefully create positive feelings of togetherness and comfort, or having someone to lean on, discuss with, and share tips for overcoming common issues. We have 25 vendors who have come on board with the same mindset of helping, informing and empowering people and families going through the end of a major relationship. The vendors will have booths where they will showcase their services and invite attendees to ask questions and discuss how they may be of service. Knowledge is power. Connections can be powerful. There will be keynote speakers as well, along with a panel discussion consisting of myself, my team members and professionals from other disciplines, who will address key issues that are common in most separations, with the focus being on how to arm and educate attendees with valuable information, resources and skills. The venue will be set up for an easy flow, with areas where people can relax and take it all in. Attendees can be as engaged as they want to be, from the attendee who wants to visit each vendor and has a long list of questions to the attendee who simply wishes to observe and take home pamphlets, books, and other written materials prepared specifically for the Divorce Expo. If someone leaves stronger than when they arrived, we will have succeeded in our mission.

You’ve recently been chosen to star in a TV episode that showcases extraordinary New Brunswickers, which is quite an honor. What message do you hope to convey about the legal profession and your community through this opportunity?

When I was first asked to star in the documentary, I thought it was a joke. I was skeptical at first but then quickly became excited to see what the opportunity was all about. Then, when I learned that it was not a joke but a real show that would air on TV and other channels, I was nervous! Me? Why me?! We have already spent a day filming and a camera crew is planning to attend to the Divorce Expo to gather more content and footage. No pressure, right?! By starring in the documentary, I hope to convey the message that lawyers are normal people too. We care, have large hearts, and strive to make our communities stronger. We are parents too and deal with a lot of the same problems that non lawyers do. Most of us had wanted to be lawyers from a young age, and the day we did become a lawyer is a day we will never forget. We care about our clients and when we win, we celebrate those wins, but when we lose, we hurt. I am from a small town, grew up in the country, where my bus ride to school was 45 minutes each way. I am a woman who has followed her dreams since day one and never gave up. I hope the documentary showcases just how relatable I am, how down-to-earth I am, and how much I love what I do. I hope my passion for being a lawyer is seen and felt by those who watch. I hope that by being featured, I inspire others to become lawyers or at least encourage them to follow their own dreams. If I am able to change one person’s negative perception about lawyers, then that will be a win for me. My authentic self is fun-loving, laid back, easygoing most times, with a huge heart and laugh to match. I hope by being my authentic self on the show that people see lawyers another way, as cool and fun, and easy to talk to. Like my law firm, I see myself as a non-traditional lawyer. I hope the audience agrees with me after watching.

You continue to be a trailblazer, how do you see your role evolving in the next few years to continue inspiring female attorneys?

I have a desire to start business coaching. How to run and manage a very successful law firm 101, or any business for that matter. I never saw myself as an entrepreneur before J. Donovan Law Group was born at the start of 2019. I thought I knew very little about running a business. I flourished very quickly in my new role as owner/operator of JDLG. More and more, I am being asked to speak to large groups about my business style and the keys to my success. Other women are now asking me how they can do it. Non lawyers are asking me for general business advice.

I shine when I discuss business and ways to market and how to increase revenue and reach more clients. Not many women own law firms on their own and employ close to 25 people on their own backs. More women should, but it’s non-traditional! Again, I am non-traditional. I hope to become a bigger resource for other female lawyers, both for those on my team and off. Recently, I received an email from another female lawyer who I respect a great deal and who has been practicing family law longer than I have. She was inviting me to speak at a conference. Her words made me tear up; she called me a “rockstar” and conveyed to me just how respected I am in the legal community. It was so touching. I know that people know who I am in New Brunswick, but to know that they are really watching and want to learn from me is very humbling and warms my heart and cheeks.

Your firm’s active participation in this year’s International Women’s Day across multiple cities is admirable. Can you share a memorable moment or impact from this year’s celebrations?

International Women’s Day is a big day for me and my team. We are women! We love supporting women and we love seeing other women killing it! It is a special day for us to leave work early and celebrate being successful women, mothers, sisters, friends, grandmothers, aunts and so on. It was an honor for us to represent in Fredericton, Moncton and Miramichi this year. Other female groups wanted us to participate in their celebrations. We certainly felt the love from the community at large. I believe our communities see us as positive role models. Many people respect how we conduct ourselves and the love and, kindness and generosity we habitually show to the public. A memorable moment from this year’s celebrations was when one of the organizers of an event we were invited to and attended said that their group had “moved up in the world” by having us agree to attend and speak to their attendees. They made us feel that by accepting their invitation to attend and say a few words to their guests had elevated their event. What a compliment!!

How does your firm decide on the themes or messages to share when speaking to groups of women, and what has been the response?

There are a lot of demands placed on women to succeed not only at work but also at home, to be all things to everyone. Most women are exhausted, yet they get up every day with the same vigor to do it all again. Why? Because most women measure their success by how helpful they are to those they love, and by how much they are able to meet the needs of others. When we speak to groups of women, our themes and messages tend to focus on making women feel heard and seen. We see YOU! Our themes and messages are ones that relate to what they may be going through, their fears and worries but also their joys and triumphs. What does it mean to be a woman in 2024. We draw upon our work and the experiences of our clients for subject matters of great interest and applicability, as well as from our own personal experiences. Being relatable is key! Other women want to know how I do it, how we do it. It is storytelling with a personal touch, allowing people into our worlds, both the glamorous side and the not-so-glamorous side. I will often ask my team for ideas and they are always quick to share. Being all of different ages and stages in life, we all have those topics that are important to us individually.

Your commitment to community involvement and mentoring professional women is inspiring. Since our last discussion, can you share a standout moment or achievement in your community engagement that has been particularly meaningful to you?

J. Donovan Law Group was nominated in late 2023 for a Fredericton business excellence award in the area of “Community Impact”. That nomination meant so much to me and my team. We made it to the final round with two very large organizations and ultimately did not win the award (but were still so proud nonetheless). It felt like a David and Goliath situation when compared to the other two organizations, but being in the running for a community impact award with them was a big achievement in and of itself. Little ol’ me and my team compared to an international company and a company with locations throughout Atlantic Canada was a win for JDLG all on its own. So, after I wiped away my tears, I smiled big, believing that the other two organizations likely believed that JDLG was a fierce competitor in winning that award. That moment at that award ceremony made me realize that not only do I know that we are impacting our communities in a very positive way, but so do our business peers, and that was a huge win regardless of no trophy. I wanted to win the award so badly, not just for me but for my whole team. I prayed for it. And in the process of not “winning” it, I received a much greater gift, the gift of confirmation of belonging high amongst those others who also give and give and give to their communities.

Finally, as an influential woman in law, what advice would you offer to young women aspiring to enter the legal profession, especially in specialized areas like yours?

I would encourage women aspiring to enter the legal profession to seek out a mentor. A mentor can be an invaluable resource for guidance, support and connections. Success in law requires connecting with your colleagues, team, clients, referral sources and other professionals. Working in isolation will not likely cut it. Get out and network. Attend events. Volunteer in your community. Go to court as an observer. Find a summer student placement at a firm of interest to you. Get to know as many lawyers as you can. Find one that resonates with your vision of how you want to be as a lawyer. Copy their style while you learn your own. Avoid doing what others believe you should. You alone are the only one who knows what will truly make you happy. Working as a lawyer can be so incredibly rewarding. If you find yourself not happy with what you are doing, stop and change it quickly. Don’t settle for anything less than being authentically happy. I am beyond happy with being a lawyer and don’t feel like I work at all. Doing what you love is not work. You can be highly successful and love what you do. At first, you will not have a clue what to do or where your career should go. Go with it at first until you learn more and more. Treat your clients like family and be relatable to them. And most importantly, remember that law is no longer an old boys’ club!