Tonight’s Meet a Mom, Jill Blomberg, a partner at Schoonmaker George, a Greenwich-based matrimonial law firm, where Jill recently celebrated her 25 year firm anniversary. Jill shares what is most rewarding and most challenging about working at a family/matrimonial law firm and how she balances her impressive career with being a Mom. And she also answers some tough questions about when it’s time to speak to a lawyer!
Can you please tell us a bit about yourself personally?
I moved to Connecticut with my husband to start a family in 1998 and what’s hard to believe is that my kids are now 20 and 23. Our older son graduated last year from Wake Forest and has a full-time job at Marcum LLP and our daughter is a rising Junior at Hamilton College where she plays basketball. I’m not sure how that happened! I also had a later-in-life child, Maggie – a 6 year old BijonPoo. She kind of stole my heart in a way that I didn’t know was possible.
Can you please share about your individual professional backgrounds and career highlights?
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and going to Fordham Law School, I was barred in both New York and Connecticut. After practicing in NYC for a year and a half, I joined Schoonmaker George, a Greenwich-based matrimonial law firm, where I‘ve practiced exclusively and recently celebrated my 25 year firm anniversary. In addition, becoming a Fellow of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers ( and subsequently becoming the President of the Connecticut Chapter) and the International Academy of Family Lawyers were definitive career highlights.
While I’ve had hundreds of clients over the years, one career highlight involves an abused, non-English speaking woman referred by the Greenwich YWCA. She was living in a safe house with her three children and through litigation in court, various settlement negotiations, and eventually mediation, we were able to secure an extraordinarily favorable financial settlement and full custody. Today, she speaks English fluently, has a full-time job, and most importantly, her children are thriving. A year doesn’t go by where she doesn’t visit us with homemade baklava for our whole office to enjoy.
What do you find the most challenging and most rewarding part of working for a family/matrimonial law firm?
Our court system is so overburdened that it’s extraordinarily difficult to get dates for our clients – whether it’s a simple issue or a dire emergency. Our courts don’t have enough judges, clerks, or staff and for the clients who require court intervention, it’s impossible to get them on the court calendar in a timely manner. On the other hand, the most rewarding part is the moment we secure a favorable outcome and see that pure joy and relief in our client’s faces.
What makes Schoonmaker George unique to other family/matrimonial law offices?
By far, what makes our firm unique is both the longevity of the lawyers and staff (over 100 years combined) as well as the true family-like (no pun intended) atmosphere we have in our office. Our close-knit environment helps us navigate the complicated Connecticut court system effectively and obtain the best results for our clients. I love that everybody always arranges their schedules to have lunch together and now enjoys eating in our newly remodeled kitchen. We are definitely unique in that we all celebrate our company milestones together with amazing trips to Charleston and New Orleans. Recently, almost 30 of us (team and significant others) flew down to Miami to celebrate our 25-year firm anniversary. We really are like a family here— but one that genuinely enjoys working and being together!
Sensitive question, but I know many of us would like to know, at what point of considering divorce should you be contacting a lawyer?
The very moment that you are seriously considering the possibility of divorce or separation you should contact and meet a lawyer (or lawyers) in person for a consultation. It is critical not only to be informed about your rights but also about possible pitfalls, challenges or other things that you may need to proactively do prior to filing.
How does being a Mom help you in your job and understanding your cases?
Because my kids are now grown(ish), I have experienced all the different stages of childhood development and have weathered the storms. This has equipped me to handle everything from car seat dilemmas to managing cell phone use and even more serious matters., I have a level of compassion and sensitivity because I genuinely understand the sensitive issues as I typically have already either experienced them myself or have had close friends who have had similar experiences.
How do you find a balance between motherhood and your job? Any tips for the rest of the Moms out there?
My partners always knew that my kids came first. I never missed a swim meet, basketball game, parent-teacher conference, pediatrician appointment, or awards ceremony. Our firm embodies this same commitment to family; we recognize the importance of personal lives and ensure everyone has the flexibility to prioritize their family when needed. This approach is woven into our corporate culture, and I handle it by focusing on each moment individually. Sometimes this means being present at a pediatrician appointment; other times, it involves stepping out of a dinner for a late-night call. It’s about balancing and prioritizing what matters most in each situation.
We love to support local businesses. What are your fave places when you are in Greenwich for work to:
Night Out: Hinoki, Le Penguin, and EastEnd are some of my favorite spots as well as Boxcar Cantina for some Tex-Mex and cocktails.
Get your nails done: Shout out to Wendy at Coco Nail Spa in Riverside.
Designer consignment shopping: Roundabout, CodoGirl, and getting expert guidance from Ellen Atkinson and Leslie Itoth at Consigned Designs
Have fun as a family: We all love to get the best deals at the Greenwich sidewalk sales every summer.
