Jessica was born and raised in Echuca and after completing work experience at Dawes and Vary (as it was then known) in 2008 during high school, she knew that she wanted to work as a lawyer in a country town.

After graduating with honours from Law at Deakin University in Geelong, she moved back to Echuca and began working at Dawes and Vary Riordan as a graduate trainee lawyer to complete her supervised workplace training in 2016, before being admitted to practice as a lawyer in June 2017.

Jessica works in a number of areas of law and prides herself on staying up-to-date with new legislative amendments as well as ensuring that the firm's clients receive a thorough, prompt and professional service.

Career History:

• 2017 - present - Dawes & Vary Riordan (Australian Legal Practitioner)
• 2016 - 2017 - Dawes & Vary Riordan (Graduate Trainee Lawyer)

Professional Qualifications & Admissions:

• 2017 - Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria
• 2015 - Bachelor of Laws (Honours) - Deakin University
• 2015 - Bachelor of Arts (Distinction) - Deakin University

Memberships & Associations:

• Board member - We Are Vivid (formerly Murray Human Services)
• Member - Campaspe Young Professionals Network
• Member - Goulburn Valley Young Professionals
• Youth Affairs Council of Victoria - Former Board Member (2015-2016) and Co-Chair of the Youth Reference Group (2014-2015)

Recent works highlights include:

• Advising clients in relation to succession planning matters such as the preparation of wills, powers of attorney and appointing medical treatment decision makers, handling deceased estates in Victoria and New South Wales and advising clients in relation to passing their farming assets to the next generation.
• Advising several developers in the Echuca Moama area on the subdivision and sale of their residential blocks of land
• Preparing and registering mortgage and security documentation on behalf of a major rural lending institution
• Guiding vendors and purchasers through sales and purchases of properties using the new electronic conveyancing platform, PEXA
• Negotiating and preparing new leases and renewals of existing leases for both landlords and tenants
• Acting for both vendors and purchasers in the sales of small businesses, including takeaway shops, cafes, pubs and post offices