Jennifer L. Donovan, Lead Counsel at J. Donovan Law Group, has been a member of the New Brunswick bar since 2005 and has nearly two decades of expertise focusing on family law litigation, primarily high conflict situations. She broadened her legal knowledge in 2019 by enrolling in mediation training at the Mediation Training Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jennifer oversees three office locations, advertises the business and its services, hires and retains team members, handles human resources, schedules colleagues, and maintains her own caseload as a top litigator. Her favorite part of her day is seeing her staff work together to please customers and boost J. Donovan Law Group’s reputation as the go-to law company. She works hard to make the company a household name while ensuring it is synonymous with exceptional legal services.
The Firm
The J. Donovan Law Group operates as a boutique law firm owned and managed by Jennifer L. Donovan, a lawyer and mediator. The firm was established on January 2, 2019, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Subsequently, additional locations were opened in Miramichi on July 6, 2021, and in Saint Andrews on July 4, 2023. Within a span of less than five years, this all-female firm has expanded to three office locations and boasts a team of 22 highly skilled professionals who have garnered numerous accolades. They offer bilingual services and specialize in various areas including separation and divorce, mediation, immigration, business incorporation, Wills and Estates, probate, criminal defense, and real estate. The firm actively engages with the community by participating in charitable causes and community events, demonstrating their commitment to their hometowns and all of New Brunswick. Choosing J. Donovan Law Group as legal representation sends a powerful message.
Jennifer and her team have received several significant awards, including the Best Law Firm in New Brunswick in 2023 and 2022 by the Canadian Business Review Board Inc. They were also recognized as the Best Business in 2023 and 2022 by ThreeBest Rated. Jennifer herself was acknowledged as the Best Divorce Lawyer in 2023 and 2022. Additionally, she received recognition as one of the Top 10 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Fredericton in 2023. The firm’s accomplishments range beyond legal expertise, with accolades such as the Platinum award for Best Estate Lawyers in 2022 by Community Votes Fredericton. They were also awarded Platinum for Best Immigration Lawyer and Lawyers in 2022, and Gold for Best Real Estate Law and Lawyers in 2022 by Community Votes Fredericton. The firm has consistently been recognized for their excellence, as demonstrated by their Platinum award for Best Lawyers in 2022 and 2021 by Community Votes Fredericton. Furthermore, Jennifer Donovan received the Pro Bono Award from the Canadian Bar Association in 2009.
From Pioneer to Trailblazer
Prior to the establishment of J. Donovan Law Group in January 2019, Jennifer had dedicated her entire legal career to working alongside male colleagues. She started her legal career as an articling student at Kenny & Murray, an all-male firm in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She joined the firm as a partner in 2007, after only two years at the bar, and the firm was known at the time as Kenny Murray Digdon Donovan. However, due to the senior partner’s sickness, the firm changed its name to Murray, Digdon & Donovan. Jennifer was the firm’s sole female lawyer for approximately 11 years, overseeing a team of two to three professionals during that time.
In December 2017, Jennifer welcomed her first child into the world. Within two months after giving birth, she knew that she wanted to establish her own law firm and assemble a team that would help her expand her practice beyond her initial aspirations. Jennifer began on the journey of finding a suitable office location while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood with her six-month-old baby. In June/July 2018, she found the ideal location for her firm at 23 Avonlea Court in Fredericton. Jennifer’s glamorous new offices were fully prepared for the firm’s launch on January 2, 2019, marking a significant milestone in her career. She has never looked back since, except to reflect on her transformative journey.
The founding of J. Donovan Law Group has provided Jennifer with the opportunity to redefine her practice, expand her areas of expertise, establish her unique brand, and embrace the freedom to wholeheartedly promote her authentic self.
Vision for Growth and Empowerment at J. Donovan Law Group
Jennifer Donovan Law Group began operations in 2019 with three full-time employees and one part-time employee. In less than five years, the firm has grown significantly, with 21 full-time employees and two part-time employees. Jennifer diversified the firm’s legal services by expanding its primary practice areas to include criminal defense, mediation, and immigration. In addition, she successfully increased her real estate practice by 300%. Starting with just one associate, the business currently has five, three of whom are bilingual and can provide extensive legal services in both English and French.
Jennifer expects future growth for J. Donovan Law Group by extending the team at each of their three locations. She hopes to build a partnership with the top-performing associates, converting their connection into one that is collaborative and mutually beneficial. Jennifer is willing to change the firm’s structure if required to achieve even greater success and to empower women lawyers to attain their full potential. Mentorship is important to her vision, and she actively works to change people’s perceptions of what it takes to be a lawyer. In Jennifer’s world, the practice of law is no longer confined to an exclusive “old boys’ club.” While currently focused on nurturing the existing locations, Jennifer also acknowledges the possibility of opening a fourth location when the opportune moment arises, further expanding the firm’s reach and impact.
Journey of Learning, Leadership, and Authenticity
Jennifer’s passion to personal development and leadership is obvious in her approach to learning from other legal leaders from various regions. She aspires to comprehend the techniques and concepts that have contributed to the success of her legal idols by studying them. Jennifer continually monitors new developments in law firm technology and adopts those that meet the needs of J. Donovan Law Group. She also maintains a network of mentors, soliciting advice from prominent women in the area when necessary. Notably, Jennifer values learning from her own failures and using those lessons to improve her skills as a lawyer and business owner. She has open channels of contact with her team, expressing genuine gratitude and patiently listening to their input, which she uses to improve the firm. Jennifer continues to improve and develop both personally and professionally as a result of these continual learning processes.
Jennifer understands the need of humility and relatability, which are sometimes lacking in today’s young leaders. Despite the joys and progress that come with success, she stays grounded by remembering her roots and the path that lead her to her current position. Maintaining a feeling of identity and authenticity is critical for developing and maintaining meaningful connections.
Jennifer says that as a business owner and lawyer who appreciates referrals and an expanding client base, one of the finest compliments she can receive is when someone describes her as personable or refers to her as a fellow mother. Building a strong network and cultivating trusting relationships are critical to long-term success.
Transforming Perceptions
Jennifer uses the company’s social media pages, which have approximately 15,000 followers on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, to improve people’s perceptions of lawyers and divorce. She wants people to believe that J. Donovan Law bunch is a bunch of compassionate professionals that are concerned about the satisfaction of their customers. Jennifer creates this impression by utilizing the firm’s internet content. Throughout the year, the company also participates in charitable projects, actively giving back to the community. Jennifer uses social media to educate the public on many social and legal issues, allowing her to engage with a bigger audience across the province.
The firm’s messages stress the importance of acting promptly. Jennifer highlights that waiting to seek legal advice is pointless. J. Donovan Law Group offers appointments on the same day, next day, or within the same week. They understand that legal issues are time-sensitive and aim to ensure that people don’t face unnecessary delays in getting the legal help they need.
Breaking Boundaries
Jennifer has observed significant changes in the legal sector, particularly with the advent of remote work capabilities. Gone are the days when practicing law was restricted to the confines of a physical office. Thanks to advancements in technology and software, Jennifer now has the freedom to work from anywhere. She can effectively serve clients located in different parts of New Brunswick without being tethered to a specific desk. Whether it’s from her home office or even while on the go, Jennifer can seamlessly provide legal services to clients across multiple locations, effortlessly bridging the geographical divide.
Embracing the Future
The greatest professional risk Jennifer has undertaken was leaving her 12-year partnership to establish her own law firm, especially considering she had recently become a mother and was caring for her young baby. It was the inspiration provided by her son that fueled her courage to take the leap and embrace the future without hesitation.
Looking ahead, the next five years hold tremendous promise and excitement for J. Donovan Law Group. Jennifer is driven to accomplish even more, setting her sights on expanding the firm’s immigration practice and engaging in more dispute mediation. She aims to empower her associates by offering them executive roles with increased responsibilities, encouraging their growth within the company. Jennifer is committed to challenging her team to reach new positions, even creating roles as necessary to accommodate their development.
Additionally, she envisions establishing a robust referral program that offers attractive benefits and acknowledges those individuals or groups who refer clients to the firm. The future for J. Donovan Law Group is filled with opportunities for growth and success as Jennifer actively pursues her aspirations.
Written by Steve Sanchez.