“It’s important to be compassionate because my client is going through a very difficult time. But I think being straightforward goes a long way with them. It doesn’t help anybody to beat around the bush and waste time and resources,” said Jennifer Simpkins, an attorney with Raleigh Divorce Law Firm.
“The first thing I’m trying to do during the initial consultation is really learn what’s most important to that client and then put together a strategy that prioritizes their goals. This is not a one-size-fits-all practice. Every client is different. They have different priorities.”
Simpkins said preparation is essential and that begins with listening. “It’s really paying attention to the little details. They may share something that happened with their child at a custody exchange. It seems like nothing on the surface, but they’re telling you this innocuous story for a reason,” explained Simpkins.
“So really trying to pay attention to that and break it down and figure out, ‘OK why does this very generic story mean so much to them?’ It goes a long way in building a rapport with them.”
Empathy and Feedback
Simpkins’s father, Joe Sinclair, is a pastor in Garner. While being a divorce lawyer and a pastor are very different, in some ways, they are similar. “I’ve been able to learn a lot from him about how to counsel people who are going through really difficult times of their lives. I’m learning from him how to be empathetic to those people and also provide helpful feedback. Sometimes I think that’s not always what the person wants to hear but what they need to hear.”
Simpkins, a native of Garner, NC, attended East Carolina University and pursued a Bachelor of Science in public health studies. Her goal was to become a physical therapist. However, a public health policy class piqued her interest in becoming a lawyer and possibly practicing healthcare law.
While studying at Campbell University School of Law, she took several classes in family law as an elective and interned at the NC Department of Health. “I had the opportunity to work on a custody case in Campbell’s Blanchard Community Law Clinic during my third year. That led me in the direction of exploring family law jobs,” said Simpkins. “I don’t know if anyone can truly know that they’re meant to practice family law until they’re in it every day, but thankfully, it’s been a great fit for me.”
Positive Relationships
Simpkins has handled cases against many family attorneys in Wake and the surrounding counties and developed a working relationship with each of them. “At the end of the day, after we stop working with our clients, they still have to find a way to live with and cooperate with their ex-spouse for years to come. So, finding a way to work with opposing counsel for everyone to be able to resolve the case without completely ruining the potential of a cooperative relationship between the parties in the future, is always the goal.”
“Having a positive relationship with opposing counsel and being able to call them on the phone and just talk out a particular issue in a case goes a long way for the client.”
March Madness
“I’m a huge college basketball fan. I will watch as many college basketball games as I can from the time the season starts in November all the way through April,” laughed Simpkins. She is a Duke fan. Her husband, Grant, is a UNC fan. “Those months are a little tense sometimes in my household. In the month of March, I try to schedule what I have at work around the March Madness event so that I can watch as much of that as possible and turn my brain off.”
