Jeff is originally from the heart of the Rocky Mountains, where self-reliance and individual determination is a way of life, just like it is in Alaska. At a young age he served our country while on active duty in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman/surgical medic. For six years he worked in the surgical and post-surgical areas of Naval Hospitals in California, earning a Vocational Nursing license along the way. It was that interest in working with patients that led to his achieving a bachelor’s degree in Hospital Management and Health Care Administration, from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

However, Jeff always knew he wanted to be an attorney and to help people. Graduating in the upper half of his class at the University of Wyoming, College of Law; Jeff then completed a highly competitive Masters in Law or L.L.M. in American Indian and Indigenous Persons Law from the University of Tulsa, College of Law. This was a very rich and rewarding experience that took him on a course that would not only take him permanently to Alaska but would also form his life work representing folks that often can’t get the legal help they need and deserve.

After completing his legal education Jeff spent many years representing the thirty-one federally recognized tribes and individual people throughout Bristol Bay working as General Counsel for the Bristol Bay Native Association. Later, he helped less fortunate people with their housing needs as Chief Counsel for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in Anchorage.

Seeking to gain insight into the insurance world, Jeff began defending lawsuits filed against people insured through a large national auto insurance carrier. It was this experience that polished Jeff’s trial skills and litigation talents while gaining a valuable understanding of just how insurance companies can take advantage of injured people.

And so, it was a natural fit for Jeff to join Ty Farnsworth and start Farnsworth & Vance. Jeff’s medical and insurance background give this firm and their clients the competitive and professional skill necessary to help their clients. This is important because insurance companies want nothing more than to pay you or your doctors as little as possible.