Jennifer Vrancic

One of the first things Jennifer Vrancic packs for a vacation is a puzzle book. Logical problem solving isn’t simply an after-hours indulgence for her, though-it’s what she finds interesting about her work as a civil and commercial litigator at Scarfone Hawkins. “I look at every file as a puzzle,” she says. “I have some pieces but not all of them. What kind of picture am I building? What pieces do I need?”

By age four, Jennifer knew she had a talent for argument. As a teenager, she honed her negotiating skills haggling at garage sales. Watching her dad-a solicitor-stuck behind a desk led her to choose the life of a litigator. But it’s not all about the courtroom drama, she clarifies. “People have this idea that lawyers have to be aggressive, but aggression is counter-productive. You get further when you try to work with people.”

For Jennifer, it all comes down to helping her clients weigh the risks and set reasonable expectations. What are the costs of litigation versus settlement versus other ways of resolving the matter? “I haven’t done my duty to my client if it costs them $10 to recover $5,” Jennifer says. “I need to give them a fair and honest assessment of their case to help them decide how to move forward.”