Q: Can you share with our audience the types of law you specialize in?
JS: I focus on representing and fighting for people who were injured through no fault of their own, including victims of discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and other employment-related legal issues. I also focus on various types of personal injury and sexual abuse victim representation, advocating strongly on behalf of those who have suffered due to the negligence, carelessness, or unlawful acts of others. I have litigation experience in both state and federal courts throughout Missouri and Illinois, and have vast experience representing clients at all stages of litigation, including pre-trial strategy, motion practice, written discovery, depositions, and trial.

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue a career as an Attorney?
JS: Make every relationship count, treat everyone with respect and network early and often. Build client relationships from the start and become friends with members of your local bar association as they will be there to help you when you need it and may even be a good referral source one day. You will be surprised how others will influence your career and your future successes.  

Q: What is it about your job that most excites you?
JS: This will sound cheesy, but helping people is why I became a lawyer so the days I really feel like I help my clients are the most rewarding and the most exciting. This may be by winning a substantive motion in court or after a call or meeting with a client when they thank me for everything I am doing for them. I also LOVE arguing in court. Of course, I prefer winning, but win or lose, when I advocate zealously for my client and walk away knowing I did my best and my client’s position was heard, the feeling is exhilarating.  

Q: What's your advice for women in male-dominated fields?
JS: Wear the red suit. Wear the bright blue high heels. Wear your hair any way you want to. I was once told to wear my hair in a bun and to only wear a pants suit so I “looked more like a man” and would be “taken more seriously.” I disagree with this advice wholeheartedly. Do whatever makes you feel most confident and comfortable. It will show – to your clients, colleagues, the judge, and the jury.  

Q: What's the greatest fear you've had to overcome to get where you are today?  
JS: Even throughout college and early in law school I absolutely despised public speaking. I would lose sleep and get nauseous every time I had to present anything to a room of more than one other person. Now, I can talk in front of a room of strangers or colleagues alike without the anxiety and fears I once had. I wish I knew how I overcame this fear, but I think in time it just became my norm. As I did it more and more, I became confident and comfortable. I am not saying I don’t have any nerves before larger oral arguments, but it’s now an excited, nervous feeling, not an “I’m going to be sick” feeling. Some nerves are good – keeps us on our toes!  

Q: What’s one lesson you’ve learned in your career that you can share with our audience?
JS: It’s okay if you don’t win them all. I am probably one of the most competitive people out there and I hate losing – on and off the field, inside and outside the courtroom. But there is always a winner and a loser. Great lawyers lose tough cases. If you only take the easy cases, you will never be challenged and you will never grow.    

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?
JS: Find your support circle, hold on tight and you can do anything you put your mind to. Women support other women, and the women support groups can be your biggest asset. Help others and never hesitate to ask for help.  

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?
JS: The to-do list will never be fully complete, and the work will never end. Knowing these two realities, and accepting them, are two very different things. Once you accept them, it is easier to develop and maintain a work-life balance. I also find that creating to-do lists helps - especially when I prioritize the list to identify what is high priority (needs to be completed ASAP) versus what is low priority (no deadline), and everything in between. By prioritizing the list, you can then break it up and cross things off more effectively: wake up, workout/walk the dog, complete the first few items on your to-do list (critical or high priority); break for lunch, answer emails, and then tackle the next couple of items (average priority); take a coffee break then cross the next items off (low priority). Rewrite your list as frequently as you need to, as priorities can change, and new tasks will always arise. And remember, it’s okay to take breaks and enjoy time with friends and family in between crossing off all the tasks (heck, you could even add “Spend time with friends” as a to-do to your list!). For me, being able to cross off items from my list - even if just a few at a time - is immensely gratifying and a tactic that helps me to not only stay organized but drives me to be productive and feel a sense of accomplishment throughout the day. 

Five Things About Attorney Jenifer Snow

1. What’s your favorite quote or saying?   
I have a few of them, but one of my favorites is: People don't play sports because it’s fun.

Ask any athlete, most of them hate it, but they couldn't imagine their life without it. It’s part of them, the love/hate relationship. It’s what they live for. They live for the practices, parties, cheers, long bus rides, invitationals, countless pairs of different types of shoes, water, Gatorade, & coaches you hate but appreciate. They live for the way it feels when they beat the other team and knowing those two extra sprints they ran in practice were worth it. They live for the way they become a family with their team, they live for the countless songs they sing in their head while training all those hours. They live for the competition, they live for the friends, the practices, the memories, the pain, it’s who they are. It's who we are.

I’ve played and/or coached sports for as long as I can remember. Among other things, sports teach us tenacity, teamwork, leadership, patience, and discipline. All of these skills help me be a better person and a better lawyer each and every day.   

2. What’s your big passion? 
One big passion of mine is traveling, nationally and internationally, alone and with friends and/or family. If you have never traveled alone or taken a trip solo, I encourage you to do so. It teaches you so much about yourself and the world that can’t be learned/experienced any other way. I used to collect purses and shoes, and don’t get me wrong, I still have a great high heel collection, but collecting memories from traveling is so much more valuable and enriching.  

3. What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?  
To watch – basketball, especially during March Madness. To play (and coach!) – field hockey. I coach middle and high school field hockey teams in the local area. 

4. Would you rather cook or order in?  
I love to cook. My favorite dishes are inspired by Chrissy Teigen, Tieghan Gerard and Gabby Dalkin! 

5. What was your favorite subject in school? 
Biology. I was a biology major in college.