JESSICA D. THOMAS

Attorney Thomas has been practicing in all areas of domestic law for the last fourteen (14) years; which has led to her having Rising Star recognition through Super Lawyer for several consecutive years.

She received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and her law degree from Barry University School of Law, where she was recently nominated for the Distinguished Alumni Award. Her leadership in law school—where she served in several roles, from Black Law Students Association President to American Bar Association Vice Representative—permeated into her legal career, with her serving in several local and statewide voluntary bar association roles.

She has served as Co-Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Committee for the Orange County Bar Association and received recognition for her contributions during her time in leadership. She has also served as a volunteer attorney with the Orange County Clerk of Court Self Help Centersince its opening ten (10) years ago.

As a leader in our local community, she committed several years as a volunteer attorney with the Virgil Hawkins Fellowship Program. Her work in all of Central Florida earned her the Women in Law Awardfrom BWHB, Inc.

This commitment to those most in need is highlighted by her service as a Pro Bono Attorney Guardian Ad Litem for her entire legal career, which resulted in her receiving the Elizabeth Susan Khoury Guardian Ad Litem Award of Excellence. This partnership with our leading provider of services to those in need was most recently cultivated with her becoming the recurring host of the Domino Effect broadcast on Orange TV quarterly.

Her contributions are not just limited to the legal world. She has served as President of the Central Florida Women's Resource Center, a member of the Hamilton Elementary School Advisory Council, and a past executive member of the Pride Chamber Board of Directors. Her work with the LGBTQIA+ community led to her being a 2022 Pride in Business, Business Leader of the Year Nominee.

Ensuring marginalized groups receive recognition has guided her leadership roles in the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers, where she served as Young Lawyers Chair and Judicial Reception Chair, and eventually as President of the Statewide FAWL. In this role, she led a 3,000+ membership in 2024–2025, established the first-ever FAWL Scholarship, and became only the second African American President in its 73+ year history.

As a member of the Florida Adoption Council, she has participated in statewide work for her adoption clients. Her service as a speaker for the Statewide GAL Program and the Family Law Section of the Orange County Bar—providing case law updates—keeps her abreast of cutting-edge developments for her family law clients.

Her past work as a mediator elevated her to train mediators on domestic violence and to be appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to serve on the Mediator Qualifications Discipline Review Board. This work continues to serve her domestic violence clients. She has also been selected as a member of the Seminole County Inns of Court, a network that has allowed her to expand her service as a private Guardian Ad Litem in areas including personal injury, dissolution, and emancipation.

She was most recently recognized as a TrailBlazer for her work instituting the Inaugural Adopt a Precinct Initiative in her chapter of choice, Nu Iota Omega of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

As these are just a few highlights of Attorney Thomas' accolades, they pale in comparison to her highest achievement: being a Mother to four (4) children and Wife to her Husband.