Are You an Outlaw? Meet Jessica Aries

Who has redefined what it means to think outside the law (aka OUTLAW) and is helping each of us in the process?

Meet Jessica Aries, a digital marketing strategist and consultant who helps law firms see the bottom-line impact of their online presence at By Aries.

Having worked with some of the largest global law firms and some of the fastest-growing law firms in the world, Jessica leverages her experience at high-end and volume-based law firms to create better strategies in digital marketing for her clients. An internationally recognized legal marketer, Jessica enjoys helping law firms elevate their digital marketing into the era of hashtags with digital strategies that achieve results.

Jessica has been honored to be awarded and nominated for numerous business and professional awards. In 2015 she was named the Legal Marketing Association’s Rising Star. Jessica earned her LL.M. in Information Technology and Privacy Law and her J.D. from UIC: The John Marshall Law School and her Bachelors of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin.

Below is a recent interview conducted with Jessica. Enjoy getting to know this Outlaw!

Q: What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

A: When I was first dating my husband, he once asked me what my least favorite activity was, and I responded with, “Sweating.” Note: This is after he just hiked the Appalachian Trail, and for some odd reason, he still married me.

I don’t mind intellectually taxing work, but physical work has always been something I’ve had to be in the right mindset to tackle. Every time I go to work out, I must remind myself that it leads to “a healthy life” and is thus necessary.

I’ve genuinely never understood those who say that they enjoy running.

Q: What is your idea of happiness?

A: Just hanging out with my daughter, husband, and a few friends playing board games or cooking together with a good bottle of wine. There’s nothing better than being with people who can make you laugh so hard your belly hurts.

Q: Who is your real-life hero?

A: My mom. She and I are like the Gilmore Girls. My mom was a single parent who worked a full-time job and went to night school to finish her education to provide a better life for me. She made her way, and I tagged along for the ride.

My mom sent me to college and law school, and although it wasn’t Yale, it was pretty cool to walk across the graduation stage at 23 years old with a J.D. and LL.M. in hand only to turn back to her and say, “We did it, Mom!”

However, you really should have seen her face when I said, “So, I don’t think I actually want to practice law….”

Q: To what faults do you feel most indulgent?

A: Sleeping in. I think there is nothing more fabulous than getting up at noon. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet convinced my 2-year-old that this is a good idea yet.

Q: What would you consider your greatest achievement?

A: Being a mom for sure.

The act of becoming a mother was a long and arduous process for my husband and me. We had to go through years of fertility treatments and then travel to Spain for IVF treatments. It was a long process that led to the most amazing, exhausting, and joyous experience of my life. I wouldn’t trade one bit of it, but I hope others have an easier path to parenthood.

For so long, there was a hollowness in our home that is now filled with brightly colored blocks, plastic baby dolls, wooden jungle animals, and broken crayons. Sometimes it is loud, chaotic, sticky, and sleepless, but it’s also the most rewarding work I do by a long shot. Being a parent is a privilege we don’t talk enough about, and I hope it becomes more accessible to those willing and desiring to embark on it.

Q: Who would you have liked to be?

A: Me. I like who I am, and I appreciate the experiences that have made me who I am.