(704) 275-0951FAQs About Attorney Jana K. Jones
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Q: What inspired you to become a family law attorney?
A: Phylicia Rashad on The Cosby Show inspired me to become an attorney. I’ve always admired her, and she was like a TV mom to me. So, the law has been something I wanted to pursue since I was young.
I majored in sociology in undergrad. I have always found people interesting. I’m an introvert, but I find groups of people and stories about people fascinating. And, I love to read and ask questions. I knew I wanted to go to law school, so I decided to pick a major that was going to be fun. And sociology is definitely that. And, I think it was excellent preparation for family law.
Once I entered law school, I became interested in family law but never actually took the course. When I decided to open up my firm in 2009, I started talking to some attorneys in town. One prominent African-American family law attorney was Billie Ellerbe, and he became my mentor when I first started practicing. I fell in love with family law from there.
Q: Why is practicing family law and focusing on divorce cases vital to you?
A: I view divorce as one of the most profound life changes, akin to experiencing a loss without the finality of death. It marks the end of a significant chapter and the beginning of a new one, which can be incredibly challenging. I take pride in guiding people through this transition and helping them rebuild their lives.
There’s often a stereotype about divorce attorneys being overly contentious and fixating on minor disputes, like who gets the kitchen sink or a fork. That’s not my approach. I aim to help people move forward and start fresh, especially when children are involved. To me, the well-being of children is paramount. If we focus our efforts, it should be on ensuring their best interests are protected. Ideally, we aim to minimize conflict and prevent unnecessary trauma for the kids. That’s the kind of support I strive to provide.
Q: When you have an initial intake, how does that initial conversation look, and how do you determine which route to take?
A: The first step is to schedule a consultation. During this initial meeting, you will share your situation and goals, and I will provide detailed information about the next steps, potential strategies, and an overview of my approach. I will also discuss the pricing and what it will take to move forward.
Q: What inspired you to start helping fathers specifically?
A: Money comes and goes. Relationships, hopefully, last forever, but sometimes they don’t. But your children are your children. They’re your blood. And if there’s anything worth fighting over, it’s the kids. And so that’s the catalyst and the drive behind why I do what I do and why it’s the most important thing to me.
Regarding my dad specifically, my parents had a rough relationship. They were married for the majority of my childhood and adulthood. However, it was not a good marriage; my dad was not a good husband. He was an incredible father to me, though. My mother, even though she was very frustrated with the husband that my father was, never tried to speak down about my dad to me or the relationship that we had. She always supported it. She knew I was a daddy’s girl and didn’t envy that. She understood because she had been a daddy’s girl herself. It’s really monumental, the impact fathers make on their children, especially their daughters. And, if I can be a part of making sure that relationship is protected, I want to be.
Q: What is your primary philosophy to help fathers navigate child custody and visitation disputes?
A: The most important thing to assure fathers of is that they are parents with equal rights to mom. A lot of times, there is a general assumption that mom is just going to get custody and he’s going to get some visitation schedule, and it is just what it is, and it’s not worth fighting for. And often, my dad’s come in with that assumption. And I quickly tell them that that’s not the case. Facts and circumstances have much to do with how cases play out. But generally speaking, the first thing that I want to make sure is that dads understand that they are equal parents. There’s a constitutionally protected right to be a parent. And that means parent, not mom, not dad, parent, period.
Q: What motivates you to continue advocating for dads in the legal field?
A: It is my clients and their children. I know that those relationships are so vital to my clients and so crucial to those kids. And, I believe that having both parents play significant roles in their children’s lives makes for more positive and resilient adults. And that’s what I want to see in the world. I want the next generation to do better than we did.
Q: What makes my firm different when handling these types of cases is the combination of my background and experience?
A: As a child of divorce and a second wife, I bring a personal perspective to my practice that gives me unique insights into family dynamics. I’ve been practicing family law since 2009, and I offer a flat fee structure, which is rare in this field. This means my clients pay upfront based on the stage or type of case, without the burden of ongoing hourly charges, allowing them to focus on their case without the added financial stress.