An accomplished attorney in her own right, Jodie McGill is an advocate in the truest sense of the word. McGill is a staunch defender of family welfare.

The Omaha native established McGill Law in 2011 to create the best of both worlds  –  “make my passions for the law and my family work together.”

Known as a female-focused firm, it’s no surprise she counts the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, tireless advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, as role model.

Recently identified as a 2022 Great Plains Super Lawyer, her firm specializes in collaborative divorce. Beyond that, McGill specializes in understanding small business owners and how business intersects with family life and the law. 

In addition, McGill Law was recently chosen to receive the Legal Aid’s Law Firm Partner Equal Justice Award. Previously, she had been recognized as MBJ 40 Under 40 and as a Bronze Fellow by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation.

McGill, who graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 2005, decidedly set her own course, when embarking upon her career.

“I wanted to represent clients differently than everyone else. I was interested in starting a firm that was guided by its core values; not how to make the most money possible,” she said. 

 “We believe that the collaborative model helps families transition through the divorce process with the tools that they need to be successful following their legal matter.” 

The foundation to any collaborative case is the Participation Agreement that both parties and their attorneys sign, she explained.  “In the Participation Agreement, everyone is agreeing that they are not going to take their matter to court or threaten to take their matter to court.  If court becomes necessary, everyone agrees and understands that the team, including the attorneys, must withdraw from further involvement in the matter.” 

In addition, they utilize the services of coaches to help the divorcing couple through the emotional aspects of a divorce and ensure that they are able to make decisions that aren’t clouded by their emotions. 

“We also work with a child specialist whenever there are minor children to both help the parents develop a parenting plan and to co-parent, but also to be a voice for the children during the process.  We also work with a financial neutral to help the couple make financial decisions,” she added.

“This team-based approach allows separating couples the opportunity to determine how they want to show up during their process and work toward a healthy, happy co-parenting relationship following their legal process,” she said.

Motivated by achievement and her desire to help and grow, she cites some changes she’d like to see in the legal system.

“I wish there were a fund to help more abuse survivors,” she said. “I believe that everyone who is facing a divorce should be advised of the collaborative option. While it is not for everyone, most families would greatly benefit from using this process.”

Faced by the more challenging aspects, McGill – who describes herself as “tenacious, goal oriented, competitive, and I think I’m fun” – works all the harder.

The rewards “When we get to the conclusion of a case, and our client has grown throughout the process, they feel good about their resolution, and is ready and excited for their next chapter,” she said.

Not one to rest on her laurels, McGill hopes to grow the firm, now located in Omaha, Bellevue, and Lincoln, and make collaborative the go-to process to help more families and change more lives.

Making the case for peace, she’s already laid the groundwork.

McGill Mediation, her newest venture, offers mediation services for a wide array of disputes, including divorce conflicts, employment-related disagreements, and guardianship matters. 

“Mediation can be used to settle disputes before they become legal disputes, during the legal process, and even after a legal process has ended. Our goal with any mediation is to assist participants in hearing one another so that they can better understand the other parties’ perspectives and have that understanding lead to a peaceful resolution,” she said.