Name
Jennifer Fields
Age
37
Company/Organization
Berrien County Public Defender Office
What Does Your Company/Organization Do?
Provided criminal defense for indigent individuals charged with crimes in Berrien County Trial Court.
Education
St. Joseph High School, Western Michigan University BA, Thomas M. Cooley Law School JD
Accomplishments
During law school I was on the National Mock Trial Team. As an attorney I have represented over 1500 indigent clients, including life offenses of murder and criminal sexual conduct cases. I have taken two dozen felony cases to trial. Not guilty trial verdict on assault with intent to murder case. Second chaired not guilty verdict on first degree murder charge. All 15 counts not guilty on criminal sexual conduct and weapons charges. Beside the Chief Public Defender, I am the only remaining original employee from when the Berrien County Public Defender Office officially opened January of 2017. President of the Berrien County Bar Association June 2022-July 2023 and Executive Board Member of the Berrien County Bar Association from June 2020-July 2024.
What else do you hope to accomplish by the age of 40?
Possibly run for judge.
Current City
St. Joseph
Place You Were Born
South Bend, Indiana
What was your first job?
YMCA camp counselor, stayed with the YMCA for 10 years in youth development while attending college and law school.
What’s the best advice you ever got?
lead by example
Who inspires you most?
My Dad, he has had many big accomplishments in the legal field that I hope to live up to.
That one thing about you we’d be most surprised to learn.
That I can do backhand springs
What do you love to do in your downtime?
exercise, reading books at the beach, snowboarding in the winter
What book are you reading now?
Just started the Chain by Brian McKinty
Volunteer activity you love the most.
Getting together with other members of the community. Giving back can teach you new things and it is a way to grow while doing something worthwhile within the community.
What motivates you to give back to your community?
Helping the indigent community motivates me to want to help tackle issues of inequality in our community. Also if someone is helped in the community they may then in turn pay it forward by helping others around them.
What Superpower would you most love to have?
teleport
What would you like to leave behind as your legacy once you are gone?
That I was compassionate and caring attorney who zealously fought for justice for her clients, and fought for what was right.
What does the honor of being named to the 40 Under 40 most mean to you?
It is an honor to be recognized in the community. As a Public Defender, often times, our job goes without thanks. To be nominated it shows that my roll in the community is important and that others see how passionate I am in helping clients that cannot afford private counsel.
