BYRD LAW

       As the eldest of four children, from a young age, Jennifer has always felt a responsibility to help others. Her parents taught her to stand up for what is right, work hard, and keep a positive outlook. She is a second-generation American of parents who immigrated from Vietnam after the country fell to communism. Her grandfather's farm and the family's way of living were taken from them when the communist party took over. Her father was a Commander in the military who fought alongside Americans against the communists, served time as a POW, was granted U.S. citizenship, and then became a mechanical engineer. Her mother was also granted U.S. citizenship, was a stay-at-home mother for ten years, and then became a cosmetologist.

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       Jennifer Byrd grew up in Morristown, Tennessee and Douglas, Georgia. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of South Florida, graduating with honors, magna cum laude. Following graduation, she was a high school Calculus teacher and coach for the women's track team in rural South Georgia for several years. She then married Chase Byrd, with whom she had been friends since they were teenagers in high school. Chase is an HVAC installation manager at Southern Air. Together, they have two sons, Van and Wyatt. Feeling called to serve, Chase and Jennifer spent a year in Honduras as missionaries, where they spearheaded the construction of a church and a soup kitchen for a local community. Jennifer was blessed to be a stay-at-home mother until her youngest began kindergarten. It was at this time that she followed her heart to return to school, not as an educator, but as a student, and enrolled at Louisiana State University Law Center to pursue a career in law.

 

        While in law school she received the CALI award for excellence by obtaining the highest score in her class for several courses, including Legal Research and Writing II, Constitutional Law, Louisiana Civil Procedure II, Elder Law Sem., and Estate Planning Sem. Jennifer clerked as an extern to The Honorable Michael A. Crawford of the United States Bankruptcy Court Middle District of Louisiana. She was a research assistant to Professor Elizabeth R. Carter, author of the Successions and Title Clearing Manual, for which Jennifer drafted the updates and revisions. As a member of the Tullis Moot Court, she was awarded Best Oral Advocate. She also served as a Mentor to freshman law students for the LSU Student Bar Association. 

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        As an attorney, her first client was her own family. Like other parents who have a child with special needs, she faces similar challenges and shares the same concerns of ensuring proper care, support, and resources for her child after she is gone. Parents of special needs children face the task of not only tending to their financial future, but also ensuring the financial security for the life of their child, who may not be able to work or live independently. While no one likes to think of their death, special needs parents often worry about what will happen to their child after they are gone. To help alleviate this common concern, she authored the book, THE PARENT'S GUIDE to Estate Planning for Special Needs & Disabilities in Louisiana. The e-book version is available at no cost through this website. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and helping others plan a brighter future for their child with special needs. ​​​