Jessica Gertel McGrew grew up in Tallahassee, Florida.
Education Jessica earned her B.A. in English Literature and International Affairs from Florida State University, where she was a member of Golden Key Honor Society. From there she moved on to Boston College, where she earned her M.A. in English Literature and was awarded a teaching fellowship. Continuing her teaching career through positions in the New York City Public Schools and the Dallas County Community College District, Jessica served diverse populations with unique and complex challenges. Building on this base, she attended law school at Southern Methodist University with the goal of working with individual clients and small businesses to solve problems in a creative, productive, and efficient manner. She graduated SMU Law in 2007, cum laude, after completing her 3L year as a visiting student at Northwestern University School of Law. She has been licensed to practice law in Illinois since 2007 and in Florida since 2009.
Experience Jessica began her law career with a legal aid organization in Chicago, Illinois. Upon relocating to Florida, she was an associate attorney at the Penson Law Firm and with Claire A. Duchemin, P.A. In 2014, Jessica opened her own firm, Jessica G. McGrew, P.A.
Community Involvement In September of 2019 Jessica was appointed to the Tallahassee/Leon County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, an advisory body to the City Commission and the Leon County Board of County Commissioners. Jessica is a member of Leadership Tallahassee Class 35. She is the pronouncer for the Regional (Scripps National Qualifying) Spelling Bee. She sits on the Executive Committee of the Trinity Catholic School Advisory Council, and serves on the TCS Finance Committee. She volunteers with Legal Services of North Florida, Justice Teaching, and the FLREA Second Judicial Circuit Mock Trial Competition. Her past community involvement includes the Bradfordville Kiwanis Club, Girl Scouts of America (troop leader), and a LEADS group through the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.