Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Felipe.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jennifer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My journey began in Cuba, where I was born. My father was a political prisoner with the sole purpose of providing a better life for his daughter. After much sacrifice, my parents were successful in bringing me to the United States, even though it meant leaving everything they knew, including their family, behind. As a small child, I somehow was able to internalize the profound meaning of this gesture and made a pact with myself that I would one day repay them. My parents never pushed me to explore any particular field of work. I just remember my mother always saying, “No matter what you do, make sure you’re the best at it.” And with that, I set off to become a lawyer to repay my parents for all they had done.
The goal had been set — become an attorney in the fastest and cheapest way possible. So, I did. I grew up in Hialeah but enrolled in schools with magnet programs that required I take a bus or two to get to and from them. I graduated from North Miami Senior Highschool (Go Pioneers!) with an IB Diploma and over 40 college credits in hand. I then enrolled in one of the best schools in Florida with a full scholarship and, after much deliberation, decided to graduate from the University of Florida in three years instead of the two I needed to obtain a Bachelor’s degree. Next was law school. I returned home and attended the University of Miami School of Law. There, I was introduced to a side of Miami I had no idea existed. The affluence and influence that I was all of a sudden immersed in was a culture shock, despite it being in the city I called home.
My “why” for pursuing a legal career was so solidified that it did not matter that I felt like an outsider in my own hometown and did not benefit from the types of upbringing that many of my classmates experienced. Instead, it fueled me to work harder. By the age of 24, I was a licensed attorney making more money than both of my parents combined. The goal had been accomplished, but it was in this moment that a wave of unfulfillment and dissatisfaction crashed right through me.
You see, when I made the pact with myself to repay my parents, it was accompanied by my own sacrifice… my life. I wanted to thank my parents for all they had done but I ended up living a large part of my life for them. It wasn’t until this “quarter-life crisis,” as I like to call it, that I asked myself, “who are you and what do you actually want to do?!” While I have yet to fully articulate an answer, I can honestly say I am in the process of designing a life that is inspired purely by my own desires. Today, I run my own law firm called Felipe Law, P.A. and I decide the cases I take, the hours I work and even the people I work with. The best part? I get to spend my time with my parents doing the things we love. In a sense, I feel like my story has just started…
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
If my life were a road, it would probably be one of those winding mountain roads with unexpected turns at every curve, but always inching one step higher. I look back at the challenges in my life and tend to see them as points of fortification. Whether it was learning English in elementary school or living off scholarship money in college or even assimilating to a new culture in law school, every struggle contributed to that pivotal breakthrough moment that caused me to question everything. The courage and confidence that had accumulated within me after overcoming so many obstacles propelled me past the terror of realizing I had no idea who I was and towards a new life filled with intention and purpose. Smooth road? Definitely not. But smooth roads never made for any interesting stories.
We’d love to hear more about your practice.
In May of 2019, I founded Felipe Law, P.A., a personal injury and construction law firm. After working for several other firms, I had a decent handle on the good, the bad and the ugly of the profession and set out to create something that was aligned with my values and core beliefs.
Our tag line is “The Quality You Deserve,” and every day, I endeavor to provide my clients with quality legal representation that does not take for granted the fact that they are likely experiencing one of the toughest moments of their lives. We act as a partner in problem-solving and incorporate into our representation an educational component that empowers each client to face the facts of their case, but also meaningfully contribute to its resolution. In this way, our clients become like family and continuously look to us as a resource and for that, I am proud.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always the kid who needed to be in charge of everything. Some might recall it as being bossy! When I wasn’t at the nearby park playing sports, I was helping my dad with construction around the house. While I respected my parents, I never felt as if my voice or opinion mattered less than theirs.
I enjoyed the freedom of my imagination and was always coming up with different games to keep me occupied. I realize now that I grew up with very little, but I never felt as if I was lacking anything. My creativity made up for all the toys and resources I didn’t have. I was a good student and always found school to be easy. I genuinely liked it and successfully figured out the balance needed to be a “cool nerd.”
Contact Info:
- Address: 848 Brickell Ave. PH5,
Miami, Florida 33131
300 SE 2nd Street, Suite 600
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 - Website: www.felipelaw.com
- Phone: (305) 307-8525
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felipelaw_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FelipeLawPA
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