Jennifer A Shaw

Jennifer Shaw founded The Shaw Law Group, P.C. after dedicating four years of legal practice to Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation.  The firm is focused on all areas of domestic relations litigation with special emphasis on securing the rights of unmarried couples. 

Jennifer is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Madison County Bar Association.  She has been an active Board Member of several not-for-profit agencies.

Licensure:

• Illinois, 1996
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 1997
• U.S. Circuit Court, 8th Circuit, 2005
• United States Supreme Court, 2004

Work Experience:

• The Shaw Law Group, Jennifer A. Shaw, P.C., Managing Partner (2003-current)
• Reilly & Shaw, Partner (2001-2003)
• Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc., Senior Staff Attorney /Domestic Violence Task Force Director (1998-2001)
• Campbell, Black, Carnine, Hedin, Ballard & McDonald, P.C., Associate Attorney (1996-1997)

Honors and Awards:

• Super Lawyer, Thompson Reuters, 2012 and 2013
• Young Careerist of the Year, State of Illinois, Business and Professional Women, 2002

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• Illinois Department of Child and Family Services Panel Attorney

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Section Council Member – Subcommittee Chair – Unmarried Couples and Civil Unions
• Illinois State Bar Association -- Assembly Member (6/2007-12/2012)
• Illinois State Bar Association, Past Chair - Human Rights Section Council
• Illinois State Bar Association, Past Chair - Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (current Continuing Legal Education Chair)
• Illinois State Bar Association, Past Chair - Standing Committee on Minority and Women Participation; Illinois State Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association, Past Member -- Diversity Leadership Council
• Illinois State Bar Association, Past Member  -- Diversity Pipeline Committee
• Illinois State Bar Association, Past Member – Special Task Force on Legal Research
• Illinois State Bar Association, Past Member – Standing Committee on ARDC
• Madison County Bar Association – Family Law Committee Co-Chair

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Children First Foundation, Board of Directors (2011-present)
• Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, Board of Directors (2009-present)
• Metro East Humane Society, Board of Directors (2004-2007)
• Phoenix Crisis Center, Board of Directors (1999-2005), President

Scholarly Lectures and Writings:

• Beloved Pets—The Oft-Overlooked Legal Quagmire, ISBA Family Law Newsletter, September 2012
• The Civil Unions Act and its Impact on the Practice of Law, Speaker, St. Clair County Bar Association, 2011
• The Roadmap to the Illinois Civil Union Act, Speaker, ISBA, 2011
• Nuts and Bolts of Family Law, Speaker, Ethical Considerations in Representation, ISBA, 2011

Verdicts and Settlements:

• In re Parentage of C.W.S., a Minor Child.  Trial Court's award of custody of an infant to the father was affirmed on appeal, 2010