From Courtroom to Code
Jenna Downy’s Journey from Family Law to Legal Tech
Interview By Victoria Moss
Photography provided by LEAP Family Law
When Jenna Downy began her legal career in 2013, she never envisioned that a decade later, she’d be leading a team of 25 within one of Australia’s top legal tech companies. Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and a deep commitment to improving the practice of Family Law—without having to be in court to do it.
“I’ve only ever known family law,” Jenna reflects. “I was at a boutique firm where that’s all we did—no conveyancing, no wills. It was intense but incredibly meaningful.”
Her trajectory shifted dramatically after personal tragedy: the devastating loss of her second son. Returning to the emotionally charged environment of Family Law became untenable. “I found it very difficult to hold space for clients going through their own emotional journeys. I’d always prided myself on being empathetic, but suddenly I couldn’t do it anymore,” Jenna shares.
It was then that the opportunity at LEAP Legal Software presented itself—a chance to channel her expertise into improving the tools used by family lawyers nationwide. Having used LEAP since 2013, Jenna was already intimately familiar with the software. What she didn’t know was just how radically her career was about to evolve.
Building a Legal Tech Powerhouse from the Ground Up
“When I joined LEAP in 2023, the brief was clear: build out the family law offering,” Jenna says. At the time, LEAP’s core strengths were in conveyancing. Recognising the needs of their growing family law client base, founder Christian Beck wanted to reshape the product.
“It started with just me and a developer,” Jenna recalls. “We were like a start-up inside the company—learning each other’s language and figuring out how to build something lawyers would actually use.”
“You’re not just making life easier for the lawyer; you’re giving their clients a more consistent, transparent experience.”
Today, Jenna leads a cross-functional team of developers, family lawyers, product leads, LEAP designers, marketers, client care and client relationship managers. Their work has resulted in tailored family law tools, deeper integrations, and AI-driven features designed to save time and improve consistency in practice.
From Legal Practice to Product Strategy
The transition from legal practice to tech wasn’t seamless. “I’d spent the most part of a decade billing in six-minute increments. Suddenly I had to recognise that this was going to be a different mindset” Jenna says. Christian reminded Jenna that working in legal technology was a “slow burn”, and the work took patience as ideas are turned into reality over the course of time – that helped Jenna adjust to a different model of work.
Working in sprints, with two-month delivery targets, also helped her adjust. “It gave me a sense of achievement. I could point to something tangible at the end of each sprint, even if I wasn’t billing hours.”
She also realised that her legal skills remained central—just applied differently. “The Family Law knowledge was essential. I knew how lawyers worked, what mattered to them, and why something had to function a certain way because I’d lived it.”
Tech Adoption and the Human Element
One of the most eye-opening parts of Jenna’s new role has been witnessing the divide between tech adopters and sceptics in family law. “There are still firms running without practice management software. I can’t imagine doing it,” she says. “Tech brings consistency, efficiency, and ultimately more profitability. But change is hard—especially when the day-to-day feels ‘fine’.”
She’s passionate about helping firms see what’s possible. “Once you experience the benefits—automated timekeeping, document generation, integrated matter management—you can’t go back.”
Jenna also sees legal tech as a means to better serve clients. “You’re not just making life easier for the lawyer; you’re giving their clients a more consistent, transparent experience. That’s what builds trust.”
Reflections, AI and the Road Ahead
Now, Jenna’s role is shifting again—less hands-on content work, more leadership and strategy. While she misses the day-to-day detail sometimes, she’s energised by what lies ahead.
Her advice to lawyers considering a change? “If you’re unhappy, try something new. You can always go back. But don’t stay stuck out of fear. There’s a whole world beyond the traditional path—and you can still use every skill you’ve built.”
Jenna is proof that the future of law doesn’t have to look like the past. It can be client-led, tech-driven, and built on lived experience—both personal and professional.
