Trial by jury in civil cases is as essential to secure the liberty of the people as any one of the pre-existent rights of nature.
~ James Madison, 1789
We cannot always control everything that happens to us in this life, but we can control how we respond.
~ L. Lionel Kendrick
Jill was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a minor in Business Administration in December 2001. Jill started law school at LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center the following fall. During law school, she received various honors including Dean's List, CALI awards for the highest grade in numerous classes, and Order of the Coif (top 10% of her graduating class). She was a member of the Louisiana Law Review and Vice-President of the Legal Association of Women. She graduated from LSU Law in 2005.
After law school graduation, Jill and her husband Wes moved to Dallas, Texas, where Jill practiced law for 6 years at one of the state's largest law firms. In 2011, Jill and Wes decided to move their family down to East Texas, where Wes grew up, to be closer to family and to begin a trial-intensive law practice.
Jill has represented Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and individuals in cases involving everything from securities fraud class action to probate litigation, from car crashes and eighteen-wheeler wrecks to construction defect litigation, and from divorce and child support issues to partnership disputes.
Today, Jill focuses primarily on protecting individuals that have been harmed by someone else’s actions – whether those persons were hit in a car wreck, crashed into by an 18-wheeler or tractor and trailer, or victimized by the very insurance company to whom they pay premiums every month that turns around and refuses to pay valid claims when those claims are made. Jill has always been passionate about leveling the playing field. The big companies and insurance companies that hurt our clients daily have millions, sometimes billions, of dollars; yet they refuse to accept responsibility for their negligent actions that harm innocent victims. She is admitted to practice in all state courts in Texas as well as all four U.S. District Courts of Texas.
Jill and Wes have a son and a daughter, 3 dogs, 4 chickens . . . and a partridge in a pear tree. When she is not in Court or the office, Jill enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys running. She has completed 7 half-marathons and finished the New York Marathon in November 2018.
Jill is a proponent of giving back to her community, especially local schools. Jill is a member of the Jacksonville ISD School Board. She is a member of the Parent Teacher Organization at both of her children’s schools and volunteers at their various school events. She is a prior member of a decision making team for Jacksonville High School. Each year when possible, Jill volunteers in assisting the Cherokee County Bar Association with its "Now You are 18" presentation to high school juniors and seniors. Jill also volunteers her time as a judge for the American Moot Court Association – Nationals Tournament, where the best and brightest advocates from colleges and universities across the United States compete. A proud supporter of our first responders, Jill regularly contributes to the Firefighters Charitable Foundation.