Building a Law Career on Purpose feat. Jennifer Gardner

Jennifer Gardner is a trial attorney, administrative judge, speaker, and law firm owner based in Los Angeles. In this episode, Jennifer shares how she built a career rooted in leadership and service, why lawyers need stronger communication and influence skills, and how legal professionals can use their creativity far beyond traditional practice.

About This Episode

Background

Jennifer Gardner has spent more than three decades building a multifaceted legal career that includes civil litigation, criminal matters, restraining orders, real estate disputes, administrative judging, public speaking, and mentorship. While many lawyers stay within a single lane, Jennifer intentionally built a career that allows her to serve people in different ways while still maintaining ownership over her time, practice, and leadership style.

“It’s a beautiful way to live life, helping other people," shares Jennifer Gardner on You Are A Lawyer.

Over the years, Jennifer’s understanding of leadership evolved alongside her legal work. What began as an opportunity to supplement her income through administrative judging became something much deeper as she recognized the responsibility and influence lawyers carry inside and outside the courtroom. Today, she continues balancing active litigation with mentoring younger professionals, scaling her firm, and educating lawyers on communication, influence, and persuasion skills.

Why Law School

Jennifer did not initially dream of becoming a lawyer. She originally wanted to pursue journalism and spent time interning at a television station in Washington, D.C. before family circumstances redirected her path. Encouraged heavily by her parents, Jennifer ultimately chose law school because it represented independence, flexibility, and long-term stability. 

“My mother… said, ‘You don’t ever want to be dependent on a man to make an income," explains Jennifer Gardner on Episode 247 of You Are a Lawyer.

Once Jennifer entered the legal profession, she discovered an unexpected competitive drive that kept pulling her deeper into the work. Over time, she realized that the law also allowed her to combine advocacy, leadership, creativity, and public service in ways journalism alone may not have provided. Although law school was not originally her dream, she ultimately built a career that reflects her own voice, interests, and strengths.

What Can You Do with a Law Degree

Jennifer believes lawyers often underestimate how transferable their skills truly are. Beyond legal knowledge, she sees attorneys as strategic thinkers, communicators, leaders, negotiators, and creative problem-solvers whose value extends well outside traditional courtroom advocacy.

“Being a lawyer does give us a certain amount of mental confidence that we can solve problems and do just about anything ," shares Jennifer Gardner on Episode 247 of You Are a Lawyer.

Throughout the episode, Jennifer discusses how lawyers can use their training to educate, lead teams, build businesses, mentor others, speak publicly, and create meaningful influence in their communities. She also emphasizes that while technology and AI may continue changing legal workflows, the human elements of advocacy, judgment, communication, and leadership remain irreplaceable.

Lawyer Side Hustles

In addition to running her law firm and serving as an administrative judge, Jennifer has expanded into leadership education and public speaking. She now teaches professionals and lawyers how to improve their influence, communication, persuasion, and visibility skills while helping highly sensitive communicators become stronger leaders.

“These are the irreplaceable human skills that I think are going to become more valuable as we use AI more and more,” Jennifer Gardner expresses in Episode 247 of You Are a Lawyer.

Jennifer also created a free guide called How to Save Money on Legal Fees Before Hiring a Lawyer to help people navigate legal problems more efficiently and communicate more effectively with their attorneys. Her broader work reflects a consistent theme throughout her career: empowering people through education, preparation, and thoughtful leadership.

About Jennifer Gardner

Jennifer is licensed to practice law in the state of California.

Learn more about Jennifer.

This episode is produced by Skip The Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for business owners and creatives.